IAA in Munich: Protests and traffic chaos at the start of the trade fair!

IAA in Munich: Protests and traffic chaos at the start of the trade fair!

The anticipation for the International Motor Show (IAA) in Munich is growing, but not everyone sees the event with enthusiasm. From September 9th to 14th, not only will the exhibition center in Riem be transformed, but the city center will also become a showcase for innovation and mobility. In the coming weeks, however, the people of Munich will have to prepare for some traffic disruptions that should not be underestimated. The car exhibition extends from central squares to Residenzstrasse, where it will be closed to cyclists from September 3rd, while pedestrians will continue to have access. Ludwigstrasse, which is often used as an important cycle route, will also be closed at the same time - a clear requirement for all cyclists to find alternative routes such as Queenstrasse.

As the Evening newspaper reported, there will also be changes to bus traffic during the IAA. A number of stops such as Luisenstrasse and Königsplatz are affected and numerous lines, including the 58, 68 and 100, are being rerouted. Critical voices warn that the restrictions not only burden pedestrians, but also address the trade fair's space requirements in heavily frequented residential areas. “This time the restrictions are less severe than at the last IAAs,” notes Green city councilor Gudrun Lux, “but the development remains questionable.”

A look at the open spaces

A special highlight this year are the so-called “Open Spaces”. These will be set up in central locations in Munich, such as Odeonsplatz, Königsplatz and Ludwigstrasse. From August 31st, these frameworks will be put into operation for the IAA, combined with diversions for pedestrians and cyclists until September 19th. During the exhibition, Königsplatz will be designed as an open space between the State Antiquities Collections and the Glyptothek, which will make the city even more lively. But a frame of reference is created that also offers space for protests against the trade fair.

An initiative group including the Greens and the ADFC is calling for the IAA to take place exclusively in the exhibition center in Riem in order to free the city center from disruption. These demands are becoming louder South German newspaper loudly raised from various quarters, supported by a growing protest against the automotive industry and its impact on the climate.

Protests and blockades

There have been several protests in Munich in the last few days, which are not only directed against the IAA, but also against the automotive industry as a whole. Around 100 climate activists spontaneously gathered in front of a Mercedes-Benz branch and held a banner with the provocative inscription: “Mercedes – whether with the climate crisis or war, the main thing is profit.” How BR Reportedly, the actions were highly controversial and sometimes ended in violent clashes between activists and the police.

The pressure is growing not only to see the IAA as an event, but also to endanger the social issues associated with it. After all, it's not just the diversions that will cause dissatisfaction from September, but also the fundamental challenges of one's own mobility and the climate crisis. The intensity of this discussion is being felt in the city as preparations for the IAA continue.