Public transport in Prignitz: Citizens criticize poor connections!

Public transport in Prignitz: Citizens criticize poor connections!

Public transport in Prignitz is a hot topic that affects the minds of many residents. A recent survey showed that satisfaction with public transport in the district scored a disastrous 4.95 out of 10 possible points. This assessment highlights the massive problems with connecting many residential areas to local transport. While citizens long for a better mobility solution, they urgently highlight the grievances in their communities: “Public transport is miserable, mobility for non-car drivers is limited,” a resident from Perleberg sums it up. There is also a lawsuit from Lenzen: “The connection to work in Perleberg is inadequate or impossible,” said one affected resident.

The survey, in which over 16,000 people took part, left no doubt that improvements are urgently needed. In Putlitz there are calls for an expansion of public transport to Perleberg, Karstädt and Meyenburg, while in Pritzwalk public travel to work is described as “almost like a day trip”. A higher hourly service, more taxis and an improvement in the on-call buses are at the top of citizens' wish lists. Ideas such as ride-on benches and car-sharing cars are also being discussed to increase mobility in the region.

The local transport plan for the future

In response to these challenges, the Prignitz district is preparing a local transport plan for the period from 2024. The draft of this plan will be posted on the county website by March 16, 2024, and residents are invited to provide their opinions. Bernd Atzenroth from the district administrator's office provides information about the process and encourages everyone to actively participate in the draft. Suggestions can even be sent by email to nvp-prignitz@iges.com. The participation process is a good opportunity for citizens to express their ideas and needs in order to sustainably improve public transport in Prignitz. Information from the survey could make a valuable contribution here.

However, there are also critical voices who note that the high level of car ownership in the region may be due to the inadequately developed local public transport system. A report on the Prignitz taxi regulations comes to the conclusion that citizens in Prignitz are less dependent on public transport than in other districts, which is supported by higher car ownership. This raises the question of whether public transport should be improved in order to create a real alternative solution for the people of Prignitz.

Necessary improvements for bikes and roads

There is also a clear desire for improvements to the cycle path network and sidewalks in the region. Satisfaction here is low, and citizens are calling for an expansion of cycle paths and more horse riding opportunities. They also advocate a faster A14 and the renovation of existing roads. When it comes to noise pollution, Prignitz received an overall rating of 5.71 out of 10 points. Groß Pankow has the best values ​​with 7.38 points, while Karstädt and Lenzen also score positively.

The next steps to improve transport connections in Prignitz are coming up. How well the district can address the challenges will become apparent in the coming months. One thing is certain: people's voices must be heard in order to create a mobility offer that is tailored to their needs.

For more in-depth information about the survey results and the local transport plan, we recommend the article by Uckermark courier and the contribution of the Märkischen Allgemeine Zeitung. The citizens of Prignitz have the opportunity to actively participate in shaping their mobility. There’s something going on – let’s tackle it!