Survey: Cable cars are an alternative in public transport!

The cable car is increasingly being discussed as an alternative in public transport. In Latin America, it has long since begun its triumphal march: metropolises such as La Paz, Medellín, or Mexico City are harnessing its advantages to alleviate traffic chaos: no congestion, low emissions, little noise, and comparatively low costs. In Germany, however, such cable car projects often fail due to the opposition of citizens. To understand why and how to increase acceptance for cable cars, the planning and consulting firm Drees & Sommer SE recently conducted a survey. Currently, the company's infrastructure and mobility experts are also working on feasibility studies for cable cars in cities like Leonberg, and even for industrial companies and their premises.

83 percent can envision cable cars in public transport

In May 2019, a representative sample of over 180 people aged 18 to 80 years in the Stuttgart area was surveyed to gauge public sentiment. Key findings: With regard to German major cities, 83 percent of respondents are positively inclined towards the use of cable cars, especially for connecting peripheral city districts. Many benefits are already recognized: 42 percent believe that cable cars will generally improve public transportation. More than half consider their use straightforward, particularly if integrated into the existing ticketing system. Almost as many think that cable cars would relieve heavily trafficked routes, and 44 percent believe they would reduce CO2 emissions. Claus Bürkle, a partner at Drees & Sommer and infrastructure expert for public authorities, recalls the early days:

 “When we presented cable car concepts to local politicians a few years ago, they asked if we believed we were at the top of the Zugspitze. With increasingly serious traffic problems in many places, that has changed. Cable cars save commuters a lot of time stuck in traffic, they are extremely eco-friendly, quick to construct, and significantly cheaper to implement than subways or suburban trains. Moreover, a cable car can enhance districts that are currently excluded from public transportation.”

However, Bürkle also makes some qualifications, as gondolas are not always and everywhere suitable: According to Bürkle, a cable car is not suitable for long distances but only for stretches of up to eight kilometers. Although traveling at 20 to 25 kilometers per hour is not very fast, users would still reach their destination more quickly than by car during peak hours.

Key issues are especially safety and privacy

Regarding the safety of cable cars, respondents still have concerns: only 31 percent fully trust them. Additionally, only one in ten believes that operators would respond confidently in unforeseen situations like accidents or technical failures. However, Bürkle emphasizes that a cable car is a very safe mode of transport. For example, it is always shut down during strong storms, and accident rates are extremely low. According to him, difficulties arise from a completely different area, namely the issue of overflight rights: many property owners resist the idea of cable cars floating above their homes. This is also reflected in the survey: 44 percent see a cable car running past their homes as an invasion of their privacy.

Cable car yes, but not in front of my window!

Sebastian Beck, Senior Project Partner and Cable Car Expert at Drees & Sommer, cites the so-called 'Not-In-My-Backyard-Syndrome,' known locally as the St. Florian principle, as the main issue, which applies to most transport and infrastructure projects:

“While many people are convinced of the advantages of a city cable car system, no one wants it to pass right by their bedroom window.”

Therefore, route planning is conducted to run as much as possible over public land. The height of the cabin path is also critical according to the survey: three out of four respondents stated that a cable car route could run near their residences as long as it is placed at an appropriate height. Privacy Glass that temporarily darkens the windows during the journey could also protect residents' privacy, says Beck.

There is still no flagship project in Germany

In La Paz, Bolivia, the city with the largest urban cable car network in the world, another line is scheduled to be added to the existing ten cable car lines by 2020, bringing the total length to around 34 kilometers. Drees & Sommer is currently conducting a feasibility study for the city of Leonberg near Stuttgart. Key topics of the study include the city's needs analysis, integration of the cable car into the existing transport network, and specific proposals for routes, supports, and stations. The study also covers issues like construction and operating costs and funding opportunities. The results are expected by the end of the year. Leonberg's Mayor Martin Georg Cohn explains:

“A cable car offers the chance to rethink mobility in connection with urban design for the citizens. The crucial point is how a cable car integrates into urban planning and spatial development and can set new impulses for integrated settlement and traffic development.”

Koblenz no longer wants to be without a cable car

Koblenz is an example of how well a cable car is received in a city. Built for the 2011 Federal Horticultural Show, the local cable car was initially to be dismantled long ago. However, a local citizens' initiative advocated for its retention. Drees & Sommer supported the client in the competition and selection process. For Claus Bürkle, citizens' support is the crucial criterion for success:

“Although often hotly debated in advance, once implemented, people don't want to be without their cable car.”

To ensure that the cable car does not fail in the minds of the affected citizens from the outset, a transparent process is essential. For cable cars to become part of public transport in Germany, it is necessary to involve the population from the very beginning. Only those who seek dialogue and communicate proactively can alleviate people's concerns. The survey is part of the thesis "Acceptance Problems and Solutions for the Use of Urban Cable Cars in Public Transport." Drees & Sommer Project Manager Olivia Franz submitted the study at the Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences in July 2019, as part of the Infrastructure Management course. More information can be found at www.dreso.com

What does this mean?

Leonberg could be the first city in Germany to have a public transport cable car. Experiences from South America show that this can work, especially since a traffic-free "second level" can be created in public transport at a low cost and with energy efficiency.