Mobility First hour in Biel's parking garages to be free of charge
Parking in the city of Biel's public parking garages should be free for the first hour. This is the demand of an initiative launched on Thursday by business associations and civic parties.
15.08.2024, 11:41
SDA
The initiative aims to increase the attractiveness of the city center and reduce motorized private transport, the initiators announced on Thursday.
Currently, the fee for the first hour in Biel's public parking garages is 2.60 francs. The initiative committee considers this price to be too high.
It would discourage drivers from using the public infrastructure. Instead, drivers would drive through the streets in search of a parking space, causing additional traffic.
The initiative also aims to encourage consumers to visit the stores in the city center for shopping and appointments.
The initiators also argued that the number of above-ground parking spaces has been reduced by the authorities in recent years, which has led to dissatisfaction among motorists and business people.
Another argument put forward by the initiative committee is the low utilization rate of public parking lots, which is around 30 percent. As these infrastructures are financed by taxpayers, it is important to increase utilization and thus increase revenue.
The initiative committee now has six months to collect the signatures of one fifteenth of the electorate. That is around 220 signatures.
