Protest in Stahnsdorf: Citizens defend themselves against bus cuts!

Protest in Stahnsdorf: Citizens defend themselves against bus cuts!

In Stahnsdorf there is resistance to announced cuts in bus transport. These measures, which were planned by the Potsdam-Mittelmark district, are not only met with angry citizens, but also with the clear rejection of the local mayors from Stahnsdorf, Kleinmachnow and Teltow. They spoke out against the austerity plans in May and numerous protests from citizens were sparked. The district is planning to massively reduce travel times on ten bus lines, including the feeder buses 620, 622 and 623 to U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations in Berlin. From 2026, buses will only run hourly on weekends and public holidays, which would result in significant restrictions for many commuters and residents. These plans were immediately questioned by community representatives through a resolution, with many calling for the cuts to be reversed.

In order to clarify the concerns of local residents, a local politician launched a petition that has already gained over 475 supporters within three days. Many Stahnsdorf residents are particularly worried because they are dependent on late return journeys from Berlin. The planned route cuts and the cancellation of night lines (N12 and N13) during the week will hit both commuters and night owls particularly hard. These difficult circumstances could also jeopardize the positive trend in local public transport that was initiated by the Deutschlandticket if citizens are forced to use their own cars.

Mobility in rural areas

According to bpb.de, mobility in rural areas is already faced with many challenges. Around 60 percent of all routes in such regions are covered by cars. Local public transport is often perceived as unattractive, which further increases the dependence on one's own car due to the slow frequency and limited service times. The Potsdam-Mittelmark district's plans, especially at a time when public transport is to be promoted, not only question the mobility of residents, but also pollute the environment through higher CO2 emissions.

Local politicians like Kai Schultka from Die Linke have already pointed out the negative effects of the planned cuts. They see the danger that groups with limited mobility, including seniors and people with low incomes, could be severely disadvantaged. In order to better understand and respond to the planned cuts, thorough, clarifying discussions are planned between the district and the affected municipalities.

The resistance is forming

In order to send a clear signal to the city council and local decision-makers, a rally against the cuts was organized. This will take place on July 22nd at 4:30 p.m. in front of the town hall. The demands of local politicians are clear: all central bus routes should continue to run every half hour, and a daily night route is also required to ensure connections at night. The Citizens for Citizens parliamentary group refers to the local transport plan 2025-2029, which aims to strengthen public transport. It remains to be hoped that the discussions between the municipality and the district will lead to a compromise to keep mobility in the region at an acceptable level.

The district council is expected to make a decision on the cuts plans at its meeting in December. Until then, it remains to be seen whether the broad resistance of citizens and community representatives will be heard as hoped.