Prignitz surveys: Public transport satisfaction at a historically low level!

Prignitz surveys: Public transport satisfaction at a historically low level!

In Prignitz there is current cause for debate about mobility and local public transport in the region. An extensive survey has shown that citizens' satisfaction with public transport is rated as “miserable” with 4.95 points out of 10. In particular, the connection between residential areas and local transport causes a lot of frustration, as voices from Perleberg, Lenzen and Pritzwalk make clear. A survey participant from Perleberg criticizes: “Mobility for non-drivers is restricted,” while another from Pritzwalk points out the challenge that “public transport to work turns out to be a day trip” and the car is often necessary. This shows a clear discrepancy between the needs of citizens and the current local transport offering.

In order to meet the needs, many participants are calling for a higher hourly bus service and an improvement in the on-call buses, which are perceived as impractical. Proposals such as **carpool benches** and **car sharing cars** are also being discussed to promote mobility in the region. This also became clear in a further analysis: A report on the Prignitz taxi regulations states that Prignitz residents are less dependent on public transport than in other districts, which can be explained by the high level of car ownership in the region, but does not examine the potential causes for this dependence.

Urban differences and demands

Satisfaction varies greatly between municipalities. Wittenberge was rated best with 6.24 points, while Groß Pankow brought up the rear with 3.68 points. Citizens increasingly want reliable transport connections to make daily commuting easier and at the same time reduce the high noise levels in rural areas. On average, noise pollution and road traffic received a rating of 5.71 points. Here, too, there is a desire for bypasses and improvements to busy routes.

The Prignitz district is currently in the process of developing a new local transport plan for the years from 2024. Interactive participation from citizens is expressly desired: the draft can be viewed on the district's website until March 16, 2024, and feedback can be submitted by email. Bernd Atzenroth from the district administrator's office emphasizes that the plan is intended to form the basis for future improvements in public transport in order to meet the challenges of rural transport.

A look into the future of mobility

The mobility transition is also a central topic in a study by Fraunhofer IESE. This highlights that the bus can play a crucial role as a sustainable means of transport if its attractiveness is increased. Above all, better timing, flexibility and appropriate prices are necessary to move more people from their own cars to public transport. The study also shows that a stronger user orientation in planning is crucial for the success of all measures.

It remains to be seen how Prignitz's political decision-makers will address these challenges and what concrete steps will be taken to achieve a real turnaround in mobility. Both citizens and surveys make it clear: It is up to the community to sustainably change the mobility landscape in Prignitz.

We will keep an eye on developments and hopefully be able to report on positive changes soon.