Climate protection group blocks parking spaces in Bassum on “Parking Day”

In order to raise awareness for a better understanding of road traffic, members of the Bassum climate protection group blocked parking spaces on “Parking Day”.

Bassum – Members of the Bassum climate group serve delicious cakes, hearty pizza rolls and fresh coffee on Friday morning on Alte Poststraße. And yet they still receive a few incredulous, skeptical looks. Because they have taken over three parking spaces directly opposite the town hall for a symbolic event: They have organized the first “Parking Day” in Bassum.

International action day “Parking Day” in Bassum: What’s behind it

This is an international day of action that has been held since 2005 and always takes place on the third Friday in September. The aim is to show “that the road is not just for motorized traffic, but that the space must be distributed fairly and equitably for all road users,” explains Vanessa Witt. As the city’s climate protection officer, she is something of a mastermind behind the climate group that emerged from the urban development process and has been active ever since.

“We meet regularly in the town hall,” says Witt of the group’s meetings held every three weeks. But the members didn’t just discuss things at the meeting – “we want to implement measures and we want to show our faces.”

They did the latter in particular all day on Friday. Since 7:30 a.m., a good half-dozen people have been making themselves comfortable on the parking strip by the town hall in the direction of Lange Wand – literally: with artificial turf and comfortable folding chairs, a few snacks and no time pressure, they have created a small oasis of well-being. A few meters further on there is a pavilion with plenty of information material about the day of action, cycling and sustainability topics.

“Parking Day” premieres in Bassum

Parking Day is already established in large cities, says Witt; it is celebrating its premiere in Bassum this year. Perhaps this is also the reason why the climate protection officers and their colleagues are not only receiving a positive response. One trader at the weekly market criticized the campaign because he feared a loss of sales due to the lack of parking spaces, explains Vanessa Witt. But when she looks at the parking options at the Maas fashion house, for example, on Mittelstrasse and Querstrasse, she is not deterred: “There are enough parking spaces in the city center.”

And besides, this conversation was the only critical tone that had been expressed to the group up to that point, apart from a few confused-looking drivers. “Some stopped,” Witt reported of pedestrians and weekly market visitors who had sought out the conversation. Cyclists also stopped and shared their experiences with the climate group. Witt: “That they are worried about cycling because they don’t feel safe.”

“Parking Day” in Bassum: “We want to ensure a better understanding”

This is consistent with the observations of those sitting there, for example those of Stefan Seltmann: “It would be worth anticipating parking violations here,” he says, half grinning, half shaking his head. Heinz-Jürgen Michel joined him and appealed: “The city can be used for other purposes than parking cars.” Franc Henkensiefken, who is taking part as an ADFC representative, points out: “One parking space is ten bicycle parking spaces or parking spaces for four cargo bikes.”

These are exactly the thoughts that the climate group wants to stimulate in the minds of the people of Bassum. According to Vanessa Witt, it is not about inciting hatred against drivers, “we want to ensure a better understanding of the individual groups.” Michel nods and adds: “We don’t want to annoy, we want to raise awareness.” To do this, they make things a little more uncomfortable for drivers for a day – but then invite them to cake, pizza rolls, coffee and conversations that are intended to make them think.