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Agora Verkehrswende advocates for more on-demand transport services in rural areas

The public transportation connection in rural areas is still miserable – how this could be improved through the increased use of flexible minibuses has now been outlined by the think tank for climate-neutral mobility in a guideline developed in cooperation with the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV), the German County Association (DLT), and the Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB).

A round green thing? Adjustments still need to be made, especially in rural areas. | Photo: Agora Verkehrswende
A round green thing? Adjustments still need to be made, especially in rural areas. | Photo: Agora Verkehrswende
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von Martina Weyh

“Mobility Offensive for the Country – How Municipalities Can Shape the Public Transport of Tomorrow with Flexible Minibuses” is the title of the joint guide by Agora Verkehrswende, the German County Association (DLT), the German Association of Cities and Municipalities (DStGB), and the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV). It presents solutions for the federal government's declared goal of establishing accessibility standards for rural areas and improving mobility options.

“In the countryside, comprehensive access to public transportation is not only key to more sustainable mobility but also to a higher quality of life.”

The reality currently is that without a car, nothing works in the countryside. According to Agora Verkehrswende, “half of Germany's population is poorly or not at all served by buses and trains.” Connections in rural areas, if they exist at all, are often only available hourly. Furthermore, people without a driver's license or access to a car can hardly live independently. Mobility, according to the federal government, rightly belongs to public services.

Demand-responsive transport is the crucial key to improving this situation, according to the Berlin think tank. It is already available in some municipalities – and that with great success.

“Flexible minibuses that run on demand and without a fixed route offer an opportunity for better public transport services.”

The think tank and its collaborators propose in their guide, among other things, to combine demand-responsive services with regular bus connections and integrate them into public transport fare structures. On-demand transport could use a network of virtually defined stops to specifically cover smaller or poorly connected districts and regions, serve as feeders to train stations, or supplement overloaded buses or trains during peak times.

For routes with high passenger demand, such as in the centers of rural regions, conventional line services are still better suited, according to the experts.

For implementation, however, it will also be crucial that municipal authorities receive long-term commitments from the federal and state governments ensuring that additional funds are provided for the establishment of line demand-responsive services.

Here’s the guide », which is also available for download below this report.

What does it mean?

More public transport in the countryside? Yes, please – but it doesn’t come for free and requires not only smart ideas but also solid financing.

Translated automatically from German.
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