The most recent update to Dessau’s city transport development plan, prepared by Dessau’s civil engineering office, was in 2004 and sets its goals for the year 2015. In this plan, their policy objectives include: “improvement of the transport accessibility of industrial and business parks, relief of the city centre and residential areas from car traffic, [and] promotion of local public transport, pedestrian and cycling”[3]. As the population in Dessau is decreasing, the number of commuters is increasing, and, the promotion and improvement of public transport, cycling, and pedestrian paths are intended to meet the changing demographic needs. While the population is decreasing, Dessau’s age structure is shifting as well; “[there is a] decrease in the population in the 10-20 age group (students, trainees), [a] decrease in the population in the 20-60 age group (working age) and [an] increase in the population aged 65 and over (seniors)”[3]. This leads to a change in mobility habits, and the city plans to account for the increased demands on public transportation.
Currently, Dessau has many modes of public transportation, including buses, trams, trains, and bike lanes. The bus system has both local buses and buses that serve the Saxony-Anhalt state[4]. The tram serves a 19 km route and goes as far as Worlitzer park, a remarkable green space roughly a 35 minute ride from the city[5]. A variety of trains run through the Hauptbanhof, although it is mostly regional trains, and these make it very easy to access larger Hauptbahnhofs and travel throughout the state or country. In line with Dessau’s move toward car alternatives, the city prepared a cycling plan in 2016, which is complementary to the Saxony-Anhalt’s state cycling plan and the national cycling plan, integrated bike lanes throughout the city, and biking remains popular despite the aging population. The city is looking for uniformity in between the cities of Dessau and Rossleau, and is planning to integrate its many bike paths, lanes, and protective strips in order to provide a sense of continuity and connection to the cycling network (see Figure 1) [6].
Legend - Figure 1 : Stadt Dessau Rossleau Cycling Plan [6] Red - connection to Mittelzentrum Dark blue - main network Green - supplementary network Orange - not yet existing routes
While Dessau is making an effort to improve its public transportation, cycling, and pedestrian infrastructure, it is also seeking to improve its roadways and decrease traffic in the city centre and residential areas. Dessau is served by two main roads that intersect in the city center- the B 184 going from north to south, and the B 185 going from east to west.Dessaus also utilizes the A9 motorway in the east. Figure 2 shows a map from the “Traffic Development Plan” of 2004 which illustrates the existing and planned roads for the city[3].
Legend Figure 2: “Overview of road construction measures already implemented and planned in accordance with the traffic concept"[3].
Legend: Orange - Existing roads Purple - planned roads Green - planned roads with need for investigation
Citations Images: [1] "Schedule Bus Service Valid from 01.07.2017." (2017). http://www.dvg-dessau.de/v1/index.php?article_id=15 [2]Stadt Dessau-Rossleau. “Cycling Concept for Dessau-Rosseau.” 2016. http://verwaltung.dessau-rosslau.de/fileadmin/Verwaltungsportal_Dessau-Rosslau/Stadtentwicklung_Umwelt/Mobilitaet_Verkehr/Radverkehr/Alltagsradverkehr/Radverkehrskonzept/drr_radverkehrskonzept_2016-01-27.pdf [3] City of Dessau Civil Engineering Office (2004). “Traffic Development Plan.” http://verwaltung.dessau-rosslau.de/fileadmin/Verwaltungsportal_Dessau-Rosslau/Stadtentwicklung_Umwelt/Mobilitaet_Verkehr/Verkehrsplanung/Verkehrsentwicklungsplan/VEP_BERICHT_komplett.pdf
Text: [3] City of Dessau Civil Engineering Office (2004). “Traffic Development Plan.” http://verwaltung.dessau-rosslau.de/fileadmin/Verwaltungsportal_Dessau-Rosslau/Stadtentwicklung_Umwelt/Mobilitaet_Verkehr/Verkehrsplanung/Verkehrsentwicklungsplan/VEP_BERICHT_komplett.pdf [4] INSA (2018). “My tact - information.” https://www.starker-nahverkehr.de/de_DE/mein-takt/informationen.html [5] Stadtwerke Dessau. “A Route Full of Beauties.” 2013. http://www.dvg-dessau.de/v1/index.php?article_id=22 [6] Stadt Dessau-Rossleau. “Cycling Concept for Dessau-Rosseau.” 2016. http://verwaltung.dessau-rosslau.de/fileadmin/Verwaltungsportal_Dessau-Rosslau/Stadtentwicklung_Umwelt/Mobilitaet_Verkehr/Radverkehr/Alltagsradverkehr/Radverkehrskonzept/drr_radverkehrskonzept_2016-01-27.pdf