When a parking lot goes digital, something usually gets left behind. This is also the case with the new parking lot in Duisburg’s harbor.
The New Parking Lot in Duisburg
The city of Duisburg has opened a new parking lot in basin C of the harbor. On the former site of the Triton Shipyard, an area of approximately 21,300 m² has been created with 90 parking spaces and a 140 m² social facility building. This social facility offers drivers and female drivers the opportunity to shower and use other sanitary facilities.
The parking lot is operated by the Economic Enterprises of Duisburg, which also take care of cleaning and control. How this looks will have to be seen.
Proud thanks to…
No, not thanks to any dog food. Thanks to the digitalization of the parking lot. A system is used on this parking lot that some people already know from the truck stop in Lohfelden near Kassel. You indicate when you want to leave, and the computer tells you where you can park. In Lohfelden, this makes good sense because several trucks stand one after another in a row. According to departure times, a parking space is then assigned to you.
The same concept is pursued on the parking lot as in Lohfelden, even though there are some individual parking spaces there. The whole thing is realized via a digital parking space management system called SEGATE.
What annoys me
Many of you have already seen the parking areas in images, including how the overall overview looks. Sufficient image material has been distributed on social media anyway. Otherwise, there is an article and the image to be seen on the page of trans.info . For what they write there, I assume no responsibility and give no guarantees, but it matches the press release from duisport so far.
But now also what annoys me: no shade. Not a single tree on the entire site, not even any roof under which one could drive. And everyone knows how concrete and asphalt can heat up. Meaning: You stand almost on a heater in summer. One does not have to have that.
Well, the area does not currently offer much opportunity for planting a few trees, but at least one could have provided for a canopy. Especially since solar power plants could also be installed there.
This would then have the advantages that one can A) generate and market green electricity with the solar power plants and B) truck drivers would not have to stand in the blazing sun during the day there. Because dear city of Duisburg: We are still very far from a requirement for stationary air conditioning units in trucks.
All in all
I do not want to speak ill of the parking lot. It is good that there are further legal parking options in Duisburg at all. The truck stop (does it actually still exist?) has always been overcrowded after 4 p.m. And I myself have already had to pay one or another euro in fines in Duisburg for “illegal parking.” The regulatory office apparently has so much boredom that they also walk around at night. Even though I got the money from my former employer again and again, criticism is still given, and I am now spreading it for myself as well.
The fact is, one could have brought a bit more “ambiance” in there. A few little trees, even if they still need to grow, canopies so that we drivers also have shade when we must take our daily rest period during the day. In addition, solar power plants on the roofs, which can deliver a decent performance given the size.
