Wet and Wild Summer Cycling Tour in Dresden

by Waste Warrior Walim Mardassi (Tunisia) and
Sustainable SME Master Jun Piong (Philippines)😄

As the CIPSEM program nears the end, the participants also get crazier in excursions. At the end of this blog post, you will know what we did last summer.

We have shared in a previous blog entry how cool it is to cycle around Dresden ( Cycling and Picnic along the Elbe). Yet, the German municipalities are continuously developing platforms to encourage bicycling as a healthy lifestyle and as a mitigation measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. On 14 June 2019, the CIPSEM administration, led by the cycling enthusiast and transport psychologist Dr. Angela Francke and assisted by Fabian Heidegger, organised a biking tour for the CIPSEM EM-42 participants to show how the City of Dresden established an enabling environment towards the integration of cycling in the transport and mobility system and how the residents participate in advancing this cause.

Angela objectively selected the cycling route for the critical experience and analysis of the participants on the infrastructural planning and development of the cycling road network and facilities. The group took off to its first stop, the Grosser Garten. There, the participants learned the importance of the park and its natural landscapes as a healthy place for cycling and recreation. The tall trees and the chirping birds on them, the long network of roads and its road signs, and the beautiful scenery of the Palais Grosser Garten castle all make up a good environment for cycling, especially for families.

 

The next stop was in the residential area at Comeniusstrasse,where Angela and Fabian demonstrated the safety measures for pedestrians and cyclists in street curves and crossroads by freeing the road sides from obstructions of parked cars. This was reinforced by implementing strict compliance to maximum speed of 30 kph for cars. From this stop, the group then went on to the Johannstadt Nord, an area where trams, buses, cars, and bicycles converged. Here, Angela shared how the cycling enthusiasts lobbied the safety measures for the cyclists through the installation of road signs, clearing the road sides from illegal parking, and improving the road markings.

The group then moved on to the next stops by cycling across the Kaethe-Kollwitz Ufer down to the Elbe Radweg. The Elbe Radweg (English: Elbe Cycling Route) is part of an international network of cycling routes all over Europe. It is integrated in the system of currently 37 river cycling routes in Germany and is claimed to be the most popular route for cyclists in the country. Here, Angela showed a cyclist counter installed in the cycling path to gather data on the number of cyclists passing the Radweg. Gathering the data will aid the City authorities improve accessibility for cyclists and the needed infrastructure support.

En route to the supposedly another stop, we made a stopover at the Faehrgarten Johannstadt which is situated directly on the side of the Elbe river. The original purpose was for a toilet break but the sight of locals drinking beer and frolicking on ice creams and refreshments enticed the participants to have a shot and join the locals in enjoying the refreshing sight. And to the surprise of everyone, especially Angela, the participants immersed with time that they forgot their fellows using the taxi waiting in the next stop. (Yes, non-bikers used the taxi in joining the cycling tour). Realising about this, we hurriedly finished our beers and refreshments, grabbed the bikes and cycled to the last stop that summarises the whole trip… the Altstadt Centre, in Post Platz.

There, the EM-42 participants went wet and wild as if they finished a Formula 1 race. But instead of the sparkling wine being popped, the participants frolicked like kids under the cold shower of the red square arc… a well-deserved finish after the grueling cycling under the warmth of summer.

 

CIPSEM at the International Transport Forum

Having an exciting week in the beautiful Island of Vilm –BFN, CIPSEM (EM42) group was back to Dresden on 19^th of May 2019. A bit tired after long travel and the expectation of the upcoming excursion to Leipzig was not too big at this point.However, then comes Sunday, a very good day to rest and get ready for travel to Leipzig arguably our second home in Germany. It was not so long when CIPSEM group arrived in Leipzig on Monday morning 20^th of May 2019. The afternoon was a very intensive excursion to the German Biomass Research Center. Tuesday, the group convened for intensive classes at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research.

On the following three days from Wednesday 22^nd to Friday 24^th, the CIPSEM (EM42) group joined the International Transport Forum 2019 in Leipzig, Germany. The Annual Summit of the International Transport Forum is the premier global transport policy event started in 2008. More than 1000 participants from more than 70 countries including ministers from around the globe, heads of international organizations, civil society leaders, academia, business associations and the media come together to share policy perspectives and to discuss the future of transport. The summit addresses strategies, policies and challenges of all transport mods where participants can engage in intense discussion through variety of session formats. The 2019 ITF summit offered a rich of important programme from 22 to 24 of May. The policy discussions with ministers, networking opportunities, demonstrations, technical tours and an exciting exhibition were major parts of the program. Side events by ITF partners, evening receptions, cultural tours, cycling event and Gala dinner complemented the summit.

Each year, the international transport forum honors exceptional initiatives in the transport sector with its annual transport awards. The emphasis for the 2019 summit was transport connectivity for regional integration which explores how transport links work and how to improve connectivity. There were two awards-the transport achievement award and the young researcher of the year award.

Dr. Rafael Pereira wins the 2019 Young Researcher Award

Transport connectivity is a major contributor to economic development, social inclusion and increasing potential for growth by connecting people to opportunities and business markets. Improved connectivity also leads to better access to employment, education, health and public services. The 2030 agenda for sustainable development by United Nations (2015) “transforming our world” defines the goals to achieve sustainable development in three dimensions; economic, social and environmental-a better transport connectivity holds key for achieving these goals by acting as a catalyst for integration between communities, cities, regions and countries contributing to peace and stability. Connectivity is also vital for reducing trade costs and boosting economic growth. So far, the progress towards sustainable development is impressive however, there remain significant discrepancies in levels of progress between and within regions. Improved transport connectivity can help to reduce the gap and necessary actions need to be implemented to improve transport connectivity in all dimensions; physical, digital, modal, operational, individual, institutional. Therefore the ministers responsible for transport in the member countries of ITF assembled in Leipzig under presidency of Korea to pursue mutual understanding and frame response to challenges. Finally the minsters agreed on the following key issues:

• Improving connectivity of transport infrastructure and operations
• Enhancing development of sustainable transport
• Improving governance to enhance connectivity

The 2020 ITF summit will be hosted by Ireland from 27 to 29 May in Leipzig with the theme of transport innovation for sustainable development. A final word from the CIPSEM participants: “Thank you Leipzig, and thank you Korea.”

by Nyein Nyein (Myanmar) and Fiseha Bekele Teshome (Ethiopia)

Excursion to Control Center of Public Transport in Dresden

(By Sandar Myint, Myanmar)

On 24^th April of 2018, we visited the Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe AG (DVB) (Dresdner Transport Services). The EM41 participants guided by Ms. Angela Francke from the TU Dresden Institute of Transport Planning and Road Traffic, went together to the DVB Control Center of Public Transport.

After arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Mr. Winfried Oelmann. Before the lectures and discussions, the EM41 participants asked him curiously what they want to know and what they want to include as a part on DVB Public Transport such as air ventilation inside the Tram, and an E-ticket system. He answered all questions thoroughly and started his presentation about the institutional organization and strength of DVB. In General Figures of his presentation, there are seven types of vehicles which are “Low Floor Trams, Older Tatra Trams, Diesel Buses, Hybrid Buses, Battery Buses, Ferry Boats and Freight Tram”. About 160 million of passengers travelled in the year and DVB was one of Dresden’s key employers with 1,851 employees and 97 trainees.

The main responsibility of DVB is to operate the local public transportation in Dresden, the capital of Saxony and also responsible for planning, marketing, driving, traffic and product planning, communication, investing, sales, maintaining and training. Every year DVB had already surveyed the satisfactory status on DVB services and transportation types. According to 2017 DVB survey, it accounts for over 47 % of very satisfied status, 33.5% of satisfied status, 0.4% of unsatisfied status and others on DVB services and also 12% -on foot, 27% – bikes, 39% -cars and  22% -public transport on transportation types.

The ticket price in Dresden is low on behalf of the environment, people, and the livable cities. Furthermore there are several discounts; children under 14 years and handicapped people ride for free; 75% are to pay by pupils and apprentices, 80% discounts for students and also 50% of the monthly ticket prices and 75% of 4-trip tickets to pay by poor people.

The ticket revenues cannot cover the costs of public transportation in Dresden/Germany and DVB has an annual gap of Euro 40 million. In this case, ENSO and DREWAG, which are responsible for energy, network, supply of power, gas, water, grid operator got always profits and filled the gap of DVB as a consolidation of companies in the case of public transportation funding of Germany. Also Mr. Oelmann compared the pros and cons between the use of private cars and public transports in rush hours with regard to facts of carbon emission, costs and time.

After that, another lecture is given by Mr. Andre′ Schiller, who is an IT coordinator to perform both technical and administrative tasks to ensure functionality and efficiency of computer and telecom systems in DVB, on the topics of Information and control system of DVB. We knew that the operator systems need the online different units which are not as easy as using smart phones. Every night DVB transformed the scheduled data to passengers via online systems to know the real time for all routes.

After that, we moved to the main control room for Information Center of DVB in which there are 22 employees who were working with the assigned tasks. According to the explanation by Mr. Schiller and Ms. Francke, we knew that one was mainly responsible for social media and the other ones were responsible to control the computer and telecom systems of all DVB transport operations with 3 shifts in 24 hours. The operating trams in the tram lines could be seen by the specified colors such as yellow and green within the computer systems. To operate the tram lines, it needs much energy.

After that, we went outside from DVB Center and moved to place for the tram stops in order to know the structures and tasks of the trams next to the DVB building. Tram routes were arranged by the respective tram lines in that place. In this case, Mr. Schiller explained well the structures of trams and the tasks which operated daily. On the body of the tram, there was the trade mark which describes the produced year and the company to know where the tram was build up. Also, the structures of the tram include the special features for the handicapped people.

In this interesting excursion to Control Center of Public Transportation in Dresden, we had fun with this excursion and then we came back to CIPSEM Center. I would like to thank CIPSEM Teams and all facilitators for their warm reception and supports and for every schedules and arrangements of knowledgeable lectures and interesting excursions on behalf of our [EM41] participants.

Bicycle excursion in Dresden

by Khusniddin Alikulov

On April 5^th, 2018 the CIPSEM EM41 course fellows took part in a bicycle excursion in Dresden under the guidance of Angela Francke and Fabian Heidegger, both from the TU Dresden Institute of Transport Planning and Road Traffic. All fellows gathered on the back side of the CIPSEM building for choosing suitable bikes and helmets. Initial announcement by the guiding staff was about riding rules in Germany such as designated special paths for bikes, right side riding on the roads in Germany, road cross section rules, etc. Subsequently Angela Francke introduced the excursion route to all fellows, which included pit and long stops in seven points of Dresden’s Altstadt (e.g. Grosser Garten, Elbe River shore site, historical places of Dresden etc.). In my opinion, the main purpose of the tour was to educate fellows in good riding of bikes in Germany and to introduce the beautiful streets and landscape of Dresden. Moreover, all fellows enjoyed riding bikes for healthy life style. Now all fellows can rent the bikes of CIPSEM and enjoy upcoming beautiful days in Dresden.

We were also informed by Angela about the important role of Dresden’s bicycle roads for connecting the German bike road system. The most beautiful site in our route was Elbe river shore with its fresh air, attractive landscape and comfortable bike road path. Based on provided information by Angela on speed analysis, our bike excursion team had 9.3 km/h average speed and 26.3 km/h maximum speed. On the way of our route, we could also know about the interesting place in Dresden, which counts number of bicycle passes on the designated road line for statistical data collection. It was obvious that many people prefer to use bicycles for contributing to protection of environment. So it was a good example for us to experience German approach on using green transportation. I am very surprised that people in Dresden are aware of climate change and willing to contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emission. I think I will also start to share the CIPSEM bicycle excursion approach in my home country and neighborhood. Thanks a lot to the CIPSEM team for organizing this enjoyable bicycle excursion and teaching us in important transportation movement rules in Germany.

Cycling in Dresden

By Augusto Mosqueda

During the week from 20-24^th of March we had classes dedicated to mobility, infrastructure and transportation.

Preparing the ride at CIPSEM facilities

Riding through the Großer Garten

Riding along the Elbe River

Luckily the weather improved and we were able to have a smooth ride. First, the safety instructions and set up of the bikes and accessories were given to the riders. The instructors, Thilo and Angela, explain to us the route and set up the group by following Thilo and Angela on the back for ensuring a group ride.
The route covered from CIPSEM towards the Großer Garten, Elbe River shoreline, Downtown, Postplatz, CIPSEM.
During the ride, there were some intermediate stops to further explain about the importance of cycling roads, statistics, coexistence with the other transportation methods and general information about speed limits and roads inside the city.
The overall experience of riding a bicycle in Dresden made us realize the alternatives of transportation and the importance of its infrastructure for coexistence with cars, buses, trams, trains, etc.

What keeps Dresden moving?

Excursion to DVB Mobil – Dresden

From the day we first landed in Dresden, we admired the transport system in this lovely city i.e. the trams and buses especially by the level of efficiency and time management! How does this system operate so well? We wondered. On 23 March 2017, we finally got the answers, through an excursion to the Dresdner VerkehrsBetriebe (DVB) Mobil, the public transport company in charge of transport services in Dresden. Winfried Oelmann the head of operations gave a presentation on the company operations, specifically on the history of the company, work environment, training opportunities, route network, ticketing system, infrastructure, social activities among other things. The overall presentation was quite enlightening.

Afterwards, we were taken to the control room which operates 24/7 and it is where all the action happens. We got to learn how the entire system is synchronized i.e. the route network, time & efficiency of the trams and buses. There is also a customer care hotline which operates fulltime to respond to any inquiries or emergencies. Basically, this section is the heart of the company!

Key lessons learnt: 

There was so much to learn from this excursion it would not be possible to exhaust it all in this article. However, in summary, the highlights were;

• Efficiency: DVB is highly efficient, ensuring all trams and buses operate as scheduled and all the route networks are operational through the control center
• Incentives: DVB offers incentives to companies, students and the general public through discounts on individual and group tickets hence encouraging people to use public transport. From the environmental perspective, the more people use public transport, the less vehicles on the road and therefore less carbon emissions ☺
• Public relations: DVB has a strong social media presence and a customer service team to keep the public informed/updated and to respond to enquiries and/or emergencies.

Overall, it was a great experience and there is so much our countries can borrow from this system, which would go a long way in improving most of our public transport systems and most of all, restoring our faith in government-run systems. Many thanks to the entire DVB team that made this excursion a joy!

Text and photos by Joyce Kiruri, EM40 course participant from Kenya.

Sustainable transport action day

This year, the classes on sustainable transportation coincided nicely with a Sustainable Transportation Action Day at TU Dresden. A chance not to be missed.

Gerald and Dulip engage in a slow driving contest. The bikes are part of a lending scheme covering all of the city center.

Having fun with the cargo bike.

Discussing with some of the main organisers of the action day: the environment initiative of TU Dresden.

Can you guess what this is? A ‘Gehzeug’ as opposed to a ‘Fahrzeug’. It demonstrates how much space is taken up by a single person when inside a regular car.

For demonstrations sake: so many pedestrians can fit into the same space.

Exporing electric bikes…

… and some other forms of sustainable transportation 🙂

Going fast and long with e-power.