Shifting towards more environmentally friendly means of transport in Darmstadt
The recently published study "Mobility in Cities" for 2023 has shown a significant shift for the science city of Darmstadt over the past ten years to means of transport from the so-called environmental association, consisting of pedestrian, bike and public transport (public transport).
In 2023, Darmstadt residents covered almost three quarters of their paths (73 percent) with the environmental association. The proportion of the environmental association is even higher with paths that are covered within the city area; This is 81 percent. In particular, the shares of pedestrian and bicycle traffic have recorded significant growth: between 2012 and 2023 pedestrian traffic rose from 28 to 32 percent, the bicycle traffic from 17 to 27 percent. The growth of these forms of mobility dies primarily from the shift away from motorized private transport, the share of the modal Split in the above period from 37 to 27 percent. In contrast, public transport recorded a percentage loss from 18 to 14 percent, which may still be due to the aftermath of Corona pandemic. The public transport in Darmstadt in 2023 was also hindered by the lack of spare parts for tram vehicles, extensive construction work and a lack of driver. In the course of 2024, these factors were significantly reduced. Since the Germany ticket was also introduced nationwide, increasing passenger numbers and a positive effect for the further development of public transport in the environmental association can be assumed in the future.
The majority of respondents like to ride a bike (75 percent) or walk (85 percent). 59 percent like to drive with the public transport, 60 percent by car. “The results clearly show that new offers are not only accepted, but also contribute to the relocation of traffic. A powerful public transport and attractive cycling routes are crucial to make traffic smoothly and efficiently. Our measures always have an impact on the entire transport system. They create more space for everyone to move away. Every single means of transport benefits if the alternatives are well developed. This is a core principle of modern mobility planning, ”explains mobility director Paul Georg Wandrey. “In order for traffic to remain smooth in the future, we must continuously develop our system in view of increasing traffic flows. The promotion of sustainable mobility makes an important contribution to mobility peace by reconciling the needs of all road users. ”
Wandrey emphasizes the connection between the relocation on alternative means of transport and the recently identified back traffic jam in Darmstadt. “It becomes clear that investments in public transport and cycling also benefit drivers. The more people switch to the bike or train, the more smoothly the motorized traffic can flow. This creates a positive interaction, from which everyone benefits, ”explains Wandrey.
The study also shows that the number of ways that are covered on average has remained almost the same since 2013. In 2023, people with exposure to mobility covered an average of 2.4 ways a day (2013: 2.2) and mobile people 3.8 paths a day (2013: 3.8). The intolerance does not differ significantly between the age groups, children and adolescents under the age of 16 are somewhat less mobile than adults (an average of 3.1 and 3.4 paths/day). A little more than twenty percent of the professionals are now in the home office all day and do not cover work paths.
The Darmstadt residents currently have an average of 2.1 bicycles and 0.9 cars available for each household. Thirty percent of households have no car (2013: 24 percent); Depending on the age group, there are even more than half of the one -person households.
The “Mobility in Cities” study is carried out every five years as a survey of a representative group of Darmstadt residents. This enables statements about the effectiveness of political and traffic planning measures and social mobility trends.
(Darmstadt - PSD / Stip)
