Rhineland-Palatinate has strengthened public transport in the past. The “Rheinland-Pfalz-Takt” in local rail transport and the Regiobus lines as well as the establishment of transport associations significantly improved the offer. The project “Citizens’ Buses Rhineland-Palatinate” aims to further strengthen public transport in the region. The main aim is to link civic engagement with existing public transport services. Citizens’ buses can be a supplement especially where regular public transport can no longer be operated economically in sparsely populated regions. In rural areas, schoolchildren are important customers for buses and trains, but their number is declining. In contrast, the proportion of older people is increasing. They want or need to remain mobile without a car. Public transport must adapt to the changed conditions. nexus chooses the “bottom-up approach” for its project work, i.e. active cooperation from below with local people. The nexus staff advise local initiatives. The project team develops new approaches to public transport in rural areas together with the citizens, taking into account legal, economic, geographical and social framework conditions. The transport companies are involved in this process. The aim of the project is to actively advise and accompany local groups – from the initial idea to the running citizens’ bus. The project is geared towards rural areas in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Duration: 01/2010 – 12/2016
Client: Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Verkehr, Landwirtschaft und Weinbau Rheinland-Pfalz
Team: Dr. Holger Jansen (Project management), Ralph Hintz
Project partner in 2010 and 2011:
Universität Trier, Prof. Andreas Kagermeier