Bürgerbus-Meeting in Wächtersbach: Together for rural mobility!

Bürgerbus-Meeting in Wächtersbach: Together for rural mobility!

Wächtersbach, Deutschland - On May 7, 2025, the second of a total of four regional meetings of the Hessian citizens' bus initiatives took place in Wächtersbach Castle. The event served to exchange experiences and learning through the organization and the operational processes of the citizens' buses. On this occasion, Knut John, the Hessian State Government, emphasized the central role of playing citizens' buses for the mobility of older people in rural regions. These initiatives enable access to important facilities such as doctors, pharmacies and shops, which is particularly important for older and reduced mobility.

Lisa Deißler, the managing director of the State Foundation in Hesse, explained the importance of these citizens' buses for mobility and quality of life in rural areas. Around 170 citizens' buses already operate in Hesse and complement local public transport (public transport). The citizens' buses are operated by municipalities and associations and by volunteers. They combine suburbs with local nuclei and promote not only mobility, but also civic cohesion.

support from the state of Hesse

The state of Hesse has provided 125 vehicles for citizen buses since 2019, with the trend towards electric vehicles. These are particularly suitable for short distances with frequent holding. Load points for these electric vehicles are also funded by the country.

The funding program of the State of Hesse supports the introduction and operation of citizens' buses through various measures. This includes the transfer of an electrical tapping, the provision of a wall box and the reimbursement of the connection costs. Furthermore, support also includes consultations on concept development and materials for public relations. An essential point is also the reimbursement of costs for the driver's health examinations and for driving safety training.

funding process and requirements

committed citizens, associations and initiatives can apply for funding by sending an expression of interest to the state foundation "with each other in Hesse". The application process includes several steps that range from a preliminary examination from a specialist center to the official application at the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport, Living and Rural Affairs

The prerequisites for funding are diverse: a operating concept must be developed, which includes a long -term financing concept and a positive forecast for future development. The citizens' buses should also not represent parallel traffic to the existing public transport and must be able to use a sufficient number of volunteer drivers.

The citizens' bus projects represent an individual project that requires an intensive development process. This includes determining the needs, founding of the association, financing and also public relations. Further information on the application and the programs are available at togetherly-in-hessen.de . For more comprehensive insights into the Bürgerbus topic, interested parties can also be published on Z-F-V consult.

The citizens' bus initiatives in Hesse play a crucial role in ensuring mobility in rural regions and contribute to improving the quality of life of many people.