Scarcity of Road Space in Urban Areas: A Case Study on the City of Darmstadt

Long have population numbers been on the rise in cities, and especially Darmstadt has witnessed one of the fastest growths in Germany. This ever increasing population however demands mobility and thus space, which is a limited resource in urban areas. Motorised traffic, bicycle traffic, pedestrian traffic and public transit are considered the four most predominant modes of transport in a city. I conduct a spatial analysis of two select streets in Darmstadt, which reveals that one-third of road space is attributed to motorised traffic. I also discuss the specific needs of each subgroup, again focusing on the situation in Darmstadt. To close off, I identify needs for action and also recommend future actions