Forsch! Podcast: Saying Goodbye to the Car – But How?

In the latest episode of the science podcast “Forsch!” from Braunschweiger Zeitung and ForschungRegion Braunschweig, traffic psychologist Mark Vollrath from TU Braunschweig is a guest. In conversation with moderator Andreas Eberhard, he reports on the transport transition and explains what cities must do to encourage more people to leave their cars behind.

Traffic Psychology – What is it?

At the beginning of the podcast, we discuss what a traffic psychologist actually does and what influence they aim to have on traffic and its participants. When we think of “Mobility of the Future,” we immediately consider e-mobility, smart infrastructures, or autonomous driving. However, Vollrath reports on the importance of including people here, because with increasingly advanced technology, humans and human error are the main cause of almost all accidents. “Humans are a central point in traffic. Technology often works very well, but technology is controlled by humans. Therefore, it is our task to design roads and cycle paths in such a way that as few conflicts as possible arise for people.”

How Do our Cities Become Bicycle-Friendly?

A major topic in Mark Vollrath’s field of expertise is the bicycle. This involves how the current “renaissance of cycling” practically looks and what steps are being taken: “What needs to be done to make cities bicycle-friendly?” How do people actually want to cycle? What is pleasant for cyclists? What leads people to switch to cycling? These are human principles that influence the design of urban spaces!” says Vollrath.

Public Transport and the 9-Euro-Ticket – a Good Idea?

“There are so many reasons why people love driving, and we need to address that and provide alternatives.” The 9-Euro-Ticket, as an affordable and climate-friendly alternative to driving, is “every traffic psychologist’s dream”; nevertheless, Vollrath explains why a cheap ticket alone is not enough and what concepts and measures are needed to make public transport sustainably more attractive.

The podcast “Forsch! – Science in Interview” is a cooperation between ForschungRegion Braunschweig and Braunschweiger Zeitung. The moderators from ForschungRegion and Braunschweiger Zeitung speak with regional stakeholders about their research, their person – and about current social, political, and ethical questions and debates.

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