Dresden, September 15, 2021 - Everyone is talking about the transport, traffic and mobility revolution. But what is it, exactly? Discussions, proposals and criticism on this subject are shaping the current debate at municipal, state and federal levels. “In general, these discussions concern measures that are intended to promote a revolution in transport or that stand in the way of it, as the case may be. What is less clear is which overarching principles, goals and starting points a transport and traffic revolution should follow," says Prof. Udo Becker, Chair of Transport Ecology at TU Dresden’s "Friedrich List" Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences.

An expert colloquium of German transport ecologists was held at the "Friedrich List" Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences on September 15, 2021, to discuss and clarify these issues. Prof. Udo Becker and his team from the Chair of Transport Ecology hosted the event. Around 40 experts participated in the colloquium – including representatives from German universities, the Federal Environment Agency, the Saxon State Ministry for Energy, Climate Protection, Environment and Agriculture, Dresden Transport Planning and the German Society for International Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GIZ GmbH). They discussed the many aspects and sub-areas of a “true” transport and traffic revolution. Everyone agreed that replacing combustion engines with environmentally friendly alternatives and striving to become as climate-neutral as possible is by no means sufficient. A revolution in transport and traffic must encompass all modes of transport and all areas of society. Overall, the general tenor was that a transport revolution is much more radical than has been discussed so far. "A true transport revolution is also a societal revolution," says Udo Becker.

A Declaration to support stakeholders in arguing for a transformation in transport and traffic policy

The highlight of the conference was the adoption of the "Dresden Declaration on Transforming Transport Policy". In the declaration, the signatories emphasize that the overarching goal of any transport intervention must secure mobility. The beginning of the paper emphasizes that "this is not about bans or finger-pointing," explains Udo Becker. Rather, the ten points of the declaration are meant to support arguments for a revolution in transport and traffic. "We are addressing all those who deal with this issue either professionally in municipalities, ministries, companies, in NGOs, private associations, organizations or in voluntary work," said Udo Becker.

The declaration defines one goal of the transport and traffic revolution as "minimizing transport volume as much as possible while covering all mobility needs defined as politically appropriate." The core of this is a "shift from traffic improvement to mobility security." The design of "truly climate-neutral" transport should be based on the principles of traffic minimization, alternative modes of transport and traffic improvement "in close integration with land-use planning, economic policy, financial policy, health policy and school policy." Resilience and an excellent quality of life are identified as strategic objectives. Changes made should not only take into account the interests of today’s consumers, but also those of "other people,” "other spaces " and "other generations" who rely on transport. The signatories emphasized the responsibility of transport and traffic planning for the design of attractive street spaces and vibrant cities.

Prof. Udo Becker – on a mission for transport ecology for more than three decades

For Prof. Udo Becker, the meeting of transport ecologists represented a fitting conclusion to his career as a professor and scientist when he retires on September 30, 2021. Udo Becker was born in 1957 in Schwenningen, Baden-Württemberg, and has been Chair of Transport Ecology at TU Dresden for 27 years. He is one of the most renowned and frequently interviewed transport ecologists in Germany. For more than three decades, his scientific mission has been to educate people on transport, traffic and ecology in a factual and controversial, but always fair and humorous way, to "secure the future of mobility by sharing knowledge," as he says. Over the years, he has given around 40 lectures to employees from municipalities, ministries or NGOs. In addition, he has worked on research projects in Germany and Europe and held continuing education courses on mobility management for municipal administration employees in North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and elsewhere.

An inspiration to thousands of students

Every year, around 300 students from up to 12 degree programs at TU Dresden attended his lecture on "Environment and Transport" – totaling around 8,000 young people in 27 years. This was one of the main reasons Udo Becker moved to TU Dresden in 1994 following his work at the University of Karlsruhe and Prognos AG in Switzerland. “The previous objective of more, faster traffic just leads to a dead end, and we all know that. My goal was therefore to develop concepts with the students on how mobility and climate protection can work together. I am very pleased when our graduates go on to help implement this in administrations, ministries or planning companies. There is now something in the world that will be passed on, disseminated and implemented," says the industrial engineer, who has come to adopt Dresden as his home and never looked back.

Senior professorship with a focus on international projects and teaching formats

Udo Becker will not completely part ways with "his" Faculty, and plans to remain there as a senior professor. He would like to focus his work on international research projects and on other teaching formats. "There is nowhere else in the world anything like this faculty, embedded in a city and a region that is so exciting, and that boasts many international contacts – traditionally in Eastern Europe. I'm looking forward to being able to work here a little longer," he says with excitement. 

The members of the "Friedrich List" Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences are also pleased. "I am thrilled with the work that Udo Becker has done to shape our faculty over the years. He has put his heart and soul into it and deserves our sincere thanks for his life's work up to this point," said the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Günther Prokop, in tribute to his esteemed colleague. He also added, "Transport ecology will only continue to gain significance in the future. It is very fortunate for the faculty that Udo Becker will remain with us as a senior professor and that together, we can shape the mobility of the future."

• Dresden Declaration on Transforming Transport Policy

Contact for more information on the declaration:
Udo Becker, Chair of Transport Ecology
"Friedrich List" Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, TU Dresden
Tel.:  +49 351 463-36566
E-mail:

• More about Prof. Udo Becker

About the "Friedrich List" Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences at TU Dresden:
The Faculty is the only one of its kind in Germany dedicated to transport and traffic sciences and is recognized worldwide for its competence in sustainable mobility. The interdisciplinary research conducted covers the entire range of transport on land and in the air. It is a pioneer in the development of systemic solutions for the design of safe, efficient and sustainable transport systems in keeping with technical, economic, ecological and social criteria. TU Dresden and the DRESDEN-concept network as well as national and international partners provide an interdisciplinary network for research and teaching at the Faculty. More than 200 scientists research and teach at the Faculty’s seven Institutes and 20 Chairs. The faculty offers 6 degree programs, including a Diplom in Transport Engineering, a bachelor’s degree in Transport Economics and 4 master’s degree programs. For practical applications in research and teaching, the Faculty’s researchers and 1,100 students have access to around 30 laboratories and experimental and test facilities. https://tu-dresden.de/bu/verkehr

Media inquiries
Anke Richter-Baxendale, Public Relations Transport Ecology
"Friedrich List" Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, TU Dresden
Tel.: +49 351 463-34908
mail:

Follow this link for photos from the adoption of the Dresden Declaration on Transforming TransportPolicy:
https://cloudstore.zih.tu-dresden.de/index.php/s/jwmyXsYYynFipzz