Mobility in the Westerwald: Experts discuss solutions for rural areas

Mobility in the Westerwald: Experts discuss solutions for rural areas

In the small town of Wirges, the Junge Union Westerwald recently organized a public discussion event entitled “Mobility in Rural Areas”. This meeting attracted numerous experts, including Mr. Jung, managing director of Jung Bus from Hachenburg, Mr. Schmidt from Avatar GmbH in Wallmerod and Gabriele Wieland, the first district councilor. The aim of the discussion was to discuss the challenges of mobility in rural areas and to find possible solutions. View current reports that the problem of private motorized transport (MIV) came into particular focus, as 60% of all routes in rural regions are covered by cars.

The discussion participants agreed: Local public transport must be made more attractive, especially for students, older people and people with limited mobility. Mr Jung from Jung Bus pointed out that large buses are indispensable, especially for busy routes, such as school transport between Montabaur and Koblenz. At the same time, the idea of ​​flexible public transport solutions, such as on-demand buses during school hours, was considered useful in order to meet specific needs.

Flexible offers as the key to the solution

Successful models in rural areas were also discussed. So reported bpb.de from Avatar GmbH, which has already had positive experiences with flexible passenger car rental services in Wallmerod and Westerburg. A subsidy of 8 euros per trip helps certain groups, such as young people under 18, seniors over 70 and people with limited mobility, to achieve the necessary mobility. This approach could be expanded to other municipalities in order to improve the offering throughout the district.

However, a central problem remains: many people are poorly informed about the existing bus routes and timetables. This means that public transport often remains unused, even though there are very few alternative mobility options in rural areas. The need to improve the availability of information about public transport was clearly stated by the discussants.

Environmental aspects and the future of mobility

The discussion also addressed environmental policy aspects. Research has shown that the daily mobility-related carbon footprint is almost a quarter higher in rural areas than in urban areas. In addition, people in rural areas travel significantly longer distances, partly due to insufficient connections to jobs, schools or leisure facilities. So there is not only a need for better public transport offerings, but also for innovative solutions to increase the attractiveness of public transport. Research information system highlights that the existing structures can be supplemented by autonomous driving or car sharing initiatives that are tailored to the individual needs and spatial conditions of rural areas.

After the lively discussion, there was a barbecue party to continue the discussions in a relaxed atmosphere. This event not only uncovered the challenges of mobility in rural areas, but also strengthened the will to collaborate and generate ideas among those involved. Politicians and administration are now required to take the necessary steps towards a more efficient mobility offering.