An affected mother no longer understands the world. Her son has an impairment and due to a temporary driving ban at the Polytechnic School in Leibnitz, she is not allowed to drive to let the young person get in and out. There is no corresponding permit, which has not yet been issued by the municipality of Leibnitz.
LEIBNITZ. Parents usually know from experience that children’s journey to school is often fraught with worry. In the case of an affected mother, the bureaucratic hurdles are so high that every day becomes a gauntlet. The young person has a mental disability and relies on his mother to take him to school and pick him up every day. One afternoon, the parent or legal guardian in question has to go to school at lunchtime and look after the son himself for an hour until afternoon classes start again.
Not possible to go to school alone
In order to let her son get in and out of the car on Marburgerstrasse in front of the school within the current temporary driving ban, she applied for a special permit from the municipality of Leibnitz. “My son cannot go to school alone due to his disability and cannot take the bus due to his health,” says the mother, pointing out that the municipality was unable to issue a special permit.
The affected person also said that the municipality had assured her that they had looked online and that there were enough parking spaces in the area and that she had been advised to leave earlier in order to have enough time to look for a parking space.
The affected person, who works, says: “Anyone who knows the route knows that there are no parking spaces at peak times. I can’t let my son get off at the roundabout, it’s too dangerous. I can’t stand in the disabled parking space because of the few meters are not allowed to enter the street. This situation has given me many sleepless nights and it is very stressful for me.” (Note: The disabled parking space is accessible, but is on private property.)
Handlebar survey and no afternoon program
She has already asked the district administration in Leibnitz about it, but at this point she was referred back to the municipality. The family has already experienced the consequences firsthand: they have already received a driving license and the son can no longer take part in the voluntary afternoon program at school, which he has always enjoyed attending up to this point. Due to the current situation, traveling to school several times a day is no longer acceptable.
So far no agreement in sight
The school management has now agreed that they will look for a common solution to the parking problem.
After telephone consultation with the municipality of Leibnitz, no precise statement could be given at this point.
No special permission granted
Peter Paulitsch, head of the technology and traffic department in the municipality of Leibnitz, provided up-to-date information about the current situation: “The school can be reached via two sides. One side (note: Marburgerstrasse) is reserved for buses, which is particularly busy in the morning. Issuing a special permit for a single vehicle is not expedient and, in my opinion, counterproductive in terms of traffic.”
He refers to Karl-Morre-Gasse, where there is a stopping and parking zone in front of the school that is suitable for getting in and out. “The affected person can stop here and let the child get in and out safely.” Paulitsch also points out the surrounding parking options, which are located around the school building and in the surrounding area. “A traffic analysis has shown that there are enough parking spaces around Leibnitz main square and in the side streets. We do not have a parking problem. We cannot issue special permits for individuals.” A special permit will not be granted because there are enough circumstances, according to the municipality.
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