Free or flat-rate parking in inner cities: FDP wants to decide on a pro-car plan
An FDP Spokesperson Confirmed that the Liberal Party's executive will approve a program focused on cars on Monday. According to "BamS", the resolution paper demands that municipalities attract more cars into city centers by making parking free. Alternatively, the FDP plans to introduce a nationwide flat-rate parking system, similar to the 49-euro train ticket. Simultaneously, the party wants to reduce the number of bike lanes and pedestrian zones, and if implemented, only with direct citizen involvement. The paper suggests using digitalization to manage traffic more efficiently, minimizing traffic jams, emissions, and accidents.
The FDP presents this as an explicit counter-proposal to the Greens, the newspaper reports. The FDP opposes "a green policy of paternalism," said Djir-Sarai to the newspaper.
"The federal FDP should not write cheap one-pagers, but present something substantial with their finance and transport ministries," said the Green Party's transport spokesman in the Bundestag, Stefan Gelbhaar, to the news agency AFP. This should also include "technology openness": Citizens should be able to move around safely and comfortably by foot, bike, bus, and train.
Better sharing options could also "encourage more people to use cars when and where they need them, including parking," Gelbhaar added. Moreover, the focus should be on emission-free vehicles to improve air quality.
According to "BamS", the FDP also wants to allow supervised driving for 16-year-olds and explicitly supports motorsports, which it sees as a driving force for innovation in the automotive sector.
Stefan Gelbhaar, the Green Party's transport spokesman, emphasized that the federal FDP should provide a substantial proposal related to finance and transport, focusing on technology openness to enable safe and comfortable commuting options such as walking, biking, buses, and trains. Gelbhaar also suggested promoting car use through better sharing options and focusing on emission-free vehicles to enhance air quality.
