Time 30 in all of Munich? The debate picks up speed

Now things have started to move: As the deputy chairman of the SPD parliamentary group Detlef Müller told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland”, the road traffic law will be changed in the first half of 2023. The German Environmental Aid (DUH) also criticizes the fact that cities have so far had too few opportunities to introduce a speed limit of 30 km/h. This is often only possible on side streets. DUH managing director Jürgen Resch is therefore calling for “mandatory 30 time for all urban areas”.

Green: Time 30 at normal speed, Time 50 on main traffic arteries

Munich’s mobility department considers such a standard speed in city centers to be “quite interesting”. In their view, however, a higher maximum speed should be enforced on large roads.

The Greens in the Munich city council are also asking for this: “The goal would be to make the standard speed 30 km/h, so that the 50 km/h only applies to well-established main traffic arteries, such as the Mittlerer Ring,” says parliamentary group leader Mona Fuchs.

Positive effects on road safety and noise protection

Fuchs believes that 30 km/h everywhere would have many advantages: “It improves traffic safety,” says Fuchs. Munich could then go one step closer to its goal that there should be no road traffic fatalities. It also has a positive effect on noise protection. This was also an argument for the mobility officer to reduce the speed on Frauenstrasse.

Time 30: Less polluting and fewer road signs

According to Dunkel, it now appears to residents that there are only about half of the cars driving there. The speed limit also has positive consequences for the air, says Mona Fuchs. Because if cars have to accelerate and brake less, they also emit fewer pollutants. In addition, the Green faction leader expects the city to dismantle 8,000 road signs. According to them, instead of 12,000 signs, only 4,000 would be needed.

‘Cities worth living in’ initiative: Municipalities should be empowered to make their own decisions

“We only see advantages and no disadvantages with a national speed limit,” says Fuchs. “Monaco is suitable as a common 30 km / h model,” he thinks. To make this possible, Aachen, Augsburg, Freiburg, Hanover, Leipzig, Münster and Ulm founded an initiative called “Cities worth living in” in July 2021.

Cities are working with the federal government to ensure that municipalities can decide for themselves what speeds should be ordered. Now there are 360 ​​cities: Munich is missing.

SPD faction leader Müller: “Blind hatred for cars”

Why? “We would be open to joining us,” says Mona Fuchs of the Greens. “So you should ask this question of other factions.” In fact, about a year ago there was a quarrel in the green-red municipal coalition on the issue. SPD parliamentary group leader Christian Müller even spoke of “blind hatred for cars” when the Greens pushed for Monaco to become a common 30km/h model.

SPD traffic expert Nikolaus Gradl emphasizes once again: “We must not slow down the traffic.” According to him, a national speed limit of 30 km/h would have “massive effects” on delivery traffic and boats. The trip to town could take almost twice as long, he fears.

Mayor Dieter Reiter in AZ: “Yes, I like cars”

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The Munich mobility department recommends 30 km/h as the standard speed

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Differentiation and Tempo 40 as a compromise

For Gradl, the main traffic artery is much more than the Mittlerer Ring. He therefore asks the mobility department to take a differentiated look at the roads. Tempo 40 may also be a compromise on some roads. Speed ​​limits should also be checked.

The CSU is equally critical of a city-wide 30km/h blanket zone. Its faction leader Manuel Pretzl points out that the speed limit is already 30 on most Munich roads. From a certain point of view, making Monaco into a common model would have no effect – apart from the “showcase politics”.