MultiBus - a new and innovative approach for bus systems in rural areas

Abstract

It is the challenge to develop and introduce a call-a-bus-system in order to achieve an efficient, competitive, user-friendly, demand-based and highly qualified public transport system by which public transport in rural areas can be significantly strengthened. The name Multibus goes back to the idea that not only passengers can use the bus, but also the bus is able to carry small goods. The project takes place in the three municipalities Gangelt, Selfkant and Waldfeucht (district Heinsberg) located at the border to the Netherlands, about 20 kilometres north to Aachen. The region is characterised by dispersed settlements. The Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy carries out the project in cooperation with the local public transport services (Kreiswerke Heinsberg), the municipality of Heinsberg and a consulting engineer (Harloff Hensel Stadtplanung Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH). The main topics worked on by the Wuppertal Institute are the collection of experiences of similar research projects, the analysis of economic efficiency and ecological-social balancing as well as the social marketing and public relations. The idea of MultiBus is to combine a door-to-door service for passengers and a transportation service of goods (parcels and small packets) in order to develop a public transport service orientated to users needs in times of little demand. Thus, MultiBus is a competitive alternative to the private car and aims at a step-by-step individualisation of the regional public transport. The call-a-bus-system functions as follows: The customer calls a disposition centre and makes a request for a trip at least thirty minutes before. The disposition centre feeds the computer with the desired data and confirms the trip request. The customer will be picked up at his front door (or any other desired place) at the arranged time by a comfortable minibus (about nine seats). The MultiBus-user has to pay the usual ticket price and additionally a comfort bonus, which is still far cheaper than a taxi. The MultiBus is more flexible than buses in scheduled service and is an alternative to private cars, especially the second car. People who are limited in their mobility because of missing transport modes or personal restrictions, are enabled to use a safe, reliable and cheap mobility service. Additionally to the transportation of people the combination of passenger transport and the local transport of goods (parcels and small packets) is examined. Up to now the transportation of small goods has been carried out in an uncoordinated way by different service providers. MultiBus aims at bundling up these transportation trips. The project focuses on marketing aspects. As one of the first steps, 5,000 inhabitants of the region, which are one sixth of the total population, have been interviewed. Besides demographical data these interviews dealt with information concerning travel behaviour, attitude to different transport modes, and wishes and needs with regard to public transport. Based on these findings and the general objectives of the project, different target groups were identified and marketing as well as communication strategies will be adjusted to the target groups. For the covering abstract see ITRD E126595.

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