Public transport in Hessen: Bad grades for journeys on demand

• fromJutta Rippegather

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The passenger lobby calls for improvements to the payment system and accessibility for on-demand traffic. The current concept is unacceptable.

The Pro Bahn passenger association has made a devastating verdict on on-demand traffic in Hesse. In the form that has now been started, the concept of trips on demand is not acceptable, according to the result of a vote at the regional association’s digital general meeting. The main point of criticism of the project, which is funded by the federal government with 27 million euros, is the lack of accessibility.

Payment should only be made cashless. “And this despite the fact that cash in the form of euros and cents is the legal tender in Germany,” said the regional association. Because season ticket holders also have to pay surcharges, this means that even children with student tickets are affected.

As a result, people without a bank account could no longer use local public transport (ÖPNV) on weekdays from 8 p.m., on Saturdays from 2 p.m. and on Sundays after regular bus traffic was discontinued.

The regulation that a comfort surcharge has to be paid for each trip, plus a fee per trip, has also met with criticism

driven kilometer. “That will not exactly increase the acceptance of local public transport and is a disadvantage for people in the places or districts that are poorly developed by the RMV”, judges the regional association.

Not barrier-free

The members are also dissatisfied with the vehicles. They are neither barrier-free nor adapted to the bus platform, are not suitable for wheelchair users: inside or otherwise mobility-impaired people.

In the areas selected so far, only one vehicle, in Frankfurt, is planned that has space for a wheelchair. Strollers, walkers or bicycles are generally not transported, although the on-call buses are also used during the weekends from Saturday lunchtime.

There was also insufficient capacity for larger groups, such as families with children. In the opinion of the regional association, acceptable on-demand traffic must be barrier-free and payable in cash.

No surcharges may be charged for season ticket holders. “After all, it is not a luxury to want to use public transport after 8 p.m. or on Sundays.” It must be possible to transport suitcases, prams, walkers and bicycles at any time of the day.

The “On-Demand FrankfurtRheinMain” project coordinated by the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV) is the first in Germany to span several cities and districts and ten partners. Around 1.8 million people live in the catchment area of ​​the shuttles. It should make public mobility even more flexible and comfortable.

The on-demand shuttles do not follow a fixed schedule, but can be booked when you need them. If several passengers want to go in the same direction, an algorithm bundles their travel preferences like a car pool.

The local public transport organizations and transport companies of the municipalities of Frankfurt, Hanau, Darmstadt, Limburg and Wiesbaden as well as the districts of Offenbach, Main-Taunus, Groß-Gerau, Darmstadt-Dieburg and Rheingau-Taunus are involved.

The pioneer of on-demand traffic was the “Hopper” in the Offenbach district. On August 2nd, “Emil” started in Taunusstein. On-demand traffic started in Frankfurt a week ago. His name is “Knut” and he is traveling in the north of the city.

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