2026 DVR Award: University of Kassel Graduate Honored

Jerome Busch of the University of Kassel received one of two third-place awards for his master’s thesis, in which he examined the barriers and success factors in pedestrian traffic planning. Pedestrian traffic is the second most important form of mobility in Germany after private motorized transportation. More than a quarter of all trips were made on foot in 2022. Nevertheless, significant infrastructure deficits persist in many places. In his master’s thesis, Jerome Busch examined the structural barriers to pedestrian-friendly planning. He wrote his thesis at the Institute of Transportation at the University of Kassel.

Based on a literature review and expert interviews, Jerome Busch identified key barriers in politics and public administration. These include the traditional prioritization of motor vehicle traffic, a lack of personal commitment to the issue of pedestrian traffic, a lack of openness to new solutions, inadequate communication, and a lack of decision-making authority. Financial and staffing constraints, as well as lobbying by industry associations, also hinder progress.

Jerome Busch identifies stronger communication, the incorporation of external expertise, and the increased use of temporary measures and pilot projects as success factors. Furthermore, his thesis is the first to systematically address the needs of vulnerable groups such as seniors, children, and people with limited mobility. With 30 model solutions developed for typical planning scenarios, the thesis provides practical approaches for improving pedestrian infrastructure.

Jerome Busch receives prize money of 1,500 euros for his master’s thesis.

An overview of the other award winners

The DVR Sponsorship Award was presented for the 17th time this year. In addition to this success for the University of Kassel, three other outstanding theses were recognized: First place went to Melina Brock (North Rhine-Westphalia University of Police and Public Administration), who examined the safety benefits of supervised driving starting at age 16. Second place went to Sabrina Bittel (University of Jena) for her research on stress-reducing work organization to prevent mobility-related accidents. Third place was shared by Jerome Busch and Linda Marie Pätzold (Technical University of Munich), who analyzed cycling behavior at accident-prone intersections.

The winners’ theses will be published in WISOM, the digital library for traffic-related knowledge on occupational safety and prevention.

More information about the DVR: https://www.dvr.de/presse/dvr-foerderpreis-2026