Christian Ude,
The Mayor of Munich

Developing joint Solutions about Traffic Platzhalter

In September of 1995, city councillors, representatives of BMW, experts from different departments of the City of Munich, representatives of the Bavarian government, the Deutsche Bahn AG and commercial associations came together for the first time to discuss traffic problems of the Greater Munich Area looking for solutions to which all participants could agree, despite of political differences. Until today this cooperation has been a valuable element of a jointly supported traffic policy.

Its is based on the following three aspects which are valid without change up to now:

• If improvements in traffic policy should be achieved, political confrontation is not the means to get to this aim but only a minimum of common sense.
• It is important to surmount ideological trenches, because we all know today: We need all means of transport, but we have to mobilize and use them in a sensible way.
• The sound discussions of contents in the course of the Inzell Initiative support the process of political decision but they don't replace it.

Dr.-Ing. Klaus Draeger
Management Board Member, BMW AG

Growth regions like Munich enjoy a high economic vitality in combination with a positive population development. Growth, however, is always connected with challenges in traffic and mobility. Therefore, metropolitan areas, in particular, depend on an effective system of transport and forward-looking mobility concepts. This is the only way to maintain economic progress, mobility and a high quality of living.

The INZELL Initiative helps to reach this aim, no doubt. It has become an important forum for traffic policies in the Greater Munich area providing a platform for an open, critical dialogue including all actors involved to find the largest common denominator. Sustainable solutions need to be identified and implemented in compliance with the basic principle „Innovation over Restrictions“.