Assessment of Inland Passenger Water Navigation in Bydgoszcz-Torun Functional Area and its Development Concept

A study reveals that inland passenger water navigation in the Bydgoszcz-Toruń Functional Area (B-TOF), Poland, holds significant potential for urban ecological recreation and tourism enhancement. This area, unique globally for its connection of two water trails (E-40 and E-70) forming the 'Bydgoszcz Water Node,' could benefit from expanded water connections, including a proposed water tram in Toruń—a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site—and new marinas. The research used strategic planning documents and a simulation transport model to project passenger flows under three socio-economic scenarios (optimistic, stable, regressive) for 2020–2030. While the proposed investments require substantial funding, their non-profit nature aligns with broader goals of promoting sustainable transport, ecological urban development, and leisure tourism in the region.

Kempa, J., & Iwanowicz, D. (2019). Assessment of Inland Passenger Water Navigation in Bydgoszcz-Torun Functional Area and its Development Concept. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 471, 62018. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/471/6/062018