Public transport - Land supports extension of bus offers
The state government, in conjunction with local transport companies, is advancing the development of a statewide on-demand bus offer to better connect rural regions to public transport.
"We are creating a state mobility network with comprehensive, fast, synchronized train and bus offers, as well as on-demand buses that reach even the smallest villages in the state," explained Transport Minister Reinhard Meyer (SPD) upon the handover of a funding certificate for approximately 1.4 million Euros to the Rostock District.
On-demand bus
Thanks to this state subsidy, the locally initiated on-demand bus Rubi is planned to be expanded throughout the entire Rostock district. The offer has been met with exceptional approval, said Landrat Sebastian Constien (SPD). With the start of the summer holidays, "Fahren nach Wunsch" (Traveling at Your Convenience) will be possible in all regions of the Rostock district.
The bus can be used from Monday to Friday between 5:00 AM and 10:00 PM, and on weekends and holidays between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM, provided that no regular line bus is operating within an hour before or after the desired travel time.
State subsidies for on-demand bus offers
Within the framework of the Mobility Offensive, regional bus lines and a statewide on-demand bus system with uniform standards are to be introduced. According to Meyer, there are funds of 13.5 million Euros available for this purpose in the current year. The connection to rail transport is also to be significantly improved. The goal is to encourage as many people in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to switch to climate-friendly public transport systems and to provide mobility to residents of rural areas without their own cars.
In the districts of Ludwigslust-Parchim, Vorpommern-Greifswald, and Mecklenburgische Seenplatte, there have been such on-demand bus offers for a longer time, where passengers can book rides by phone or app. Critics are calling for more urgency in expanding the offers and more funding from the state.
Bus is the most important means of transport in Local Transport
After a significant decline in passenger numbers during the Corona pandemic, there were significantly more people using buses and trains in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in 2022. According to statistics from the Statistical Office, approximately 128 million passengers were recorded in linear transport, a third more than in 2021 and slightly more than in the pre-Corona year 2019. Data for 2023 is not yet available.
- The Rostock District will benefit from the expansion of the locally initiated on-demand bus, Rubi, due to the state government's subsidy of around 1.4 million Euros.
- reinhard Meyer, the Transport Minister from the SDP party, emphasized the importance of enhancing public transport connectivity in rural areas within Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
- The on-demand bus service in Rostock District, known as 'Fahren nach Wunsch,' will provide convenience for passengers during summer holidays, allowing travel between 5:00 AM and 10:00 PM on weekdays and 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekends and holidays.
- State subsidies for on-demand bus offers, including the one in the Rostock District, form part of the Mobility Offensive, aiming to introduce regional bus lines and a statewide on-demand bus system with uniform standards.
- Critics in districts like Ludwigslust-Parchim, Vorpommern-Greifswald, and Mecklenburgische Seenplatte have called for more exigent expansion and state funding of on-demand bus offers to meet the growing demand for such services.
- Public transport, primarily buses, has seen an uptick in usage in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern following the Corona pandemic, with approximately 128 million passengers recorded in 2022, indicating a strong resurgence in green transportation.
