Dear University of Hohenheim Members,
Baden-Württemberg’s state government has decided to charge a fee for all parking spots at its universities.
Within the University, especially the negative effects of this decision on University members have been discussed. As the University Management, we are aware that this restructuring will mean an additional burden for many University members:
- For those who can in practice only travel to the University from their home by car, parking fees mean their available income will decrease.
- Many members are concerned that the total number of parking permits will not be sufficient and they will need to regularly re-apply for them.
- The new situation could make it necessary to re-organize family life.
It is also a fact that the public transport connections and the campus’s attractiveness for pedestrians and cyclists need considerable improvements.
At the same time, the clock is ticking: The state government’s decision has been made. The details will be determined by the state’s parking space management company Parken BW mbH. Until the spring of 2019, the University of Hohenheim may make suggestions for the future parking space management. However, these suggestions will not be binding.
The University Management’s strategy is to improve all aspects of mobility in Hohenheim.
- In October 2018, a Senate-appointed committee made up of students, employees, and professors is to come up with suggestions for how the parking space permits should be managed. As the President and Chancellor, we will bring these suggestions into the negotiations and defend them. From our perspective, there are only two requirements: The suggestions must ensure a balanced distribution among the various groups of University members, and it must be able to be implemented by the University without any additional resources.
- In light of the reduction of available income due to parking fees, we will also fight for a mobility supplement in the upcoming collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the state government. We will also make this demand public. That would be a step in the right direction to prevent public service from becoming even more unattractive, especially for the lower pay grades.
- We are pushing for the implementation of all measures in the mobility plan in our Master Plan 2030 for Construction and Mobility on Campus, including better public transportation connections and a campus that is friendlier for pedestrians and cyclists.
To achieve this, we will clearly and publicly work toward these goals. At the same time, we want to actively and constructively use opportunities arising e.g. from special political programs. And we will use our influence to the extent possible in personal discussions with political decision-makers.
A step to make this as transparent as possible is this newsletter “Parking, Public Transportation including Mobility,” with which we will keep you up-to-date in the future.
The state government’s decision has democratic legitimacy. In light of the debate about climate change and its causes, the intended incentive for less car traffic is not as far-fetched as it is sometimes made out to be. Many University members are worried about personal disadvantages because of the situation - as the University Management, we want to face these problems and look for ways to negate or at least mitigate any disadvantages. However, there will also be benefits such as fewer problems finding a parking space, and for those with a parking permit, there will be higher reliability of a parking space being available.
We believe that there is no chance the state government will rescind its decision. From our perspective, the goal is now to negotiate the best conditions given the current requirements. That is what we will work towards.
Prof. Dr. Stephan Dabbert, President
Dr. Katrin Scheffer, Chancellor
Written on: 17 October 2018
