Mike system in the district of Euskirchen: Virtual stops for everyone!
Mike system in the district of Euskirchen: Virtual stops for everyone!
In the district of Euskirchen, the mobility concept "Mobil im Euskirchen" (Mike) is further expanded. What started as a test run in Dahlem and Bad Münstereifel in May 2022 is now to become an established part of public transport in the district. The idea behind Mike is to give passengers more flexibility and access to public transport.
From September 1, 2023, not only the citizens of Schleiden benefit from the expanded possibilities, but also the municipalities of Blankenheim and Hellenthal. According to a press release from the Euskirchen district administration, 140 new virtual stops were set up there. The aim is to equip almost all municipalities in a circle with these virtual contact points by the end of 2024, with the exception of the city of Euskirchen, which has its own transport offer.
The advantages of virtual stops
The virtual stops are specially defined points where passengers can get into the MIKE vehicles. In contrast to traditional stops, these places are not equipped with typical infrastructure such as signs or waiting houses. Instead, they are identified by banderoles on masts or lanterns. It is important to know that only the Mike vehicles keep at these stops-regular buses have no access here.
In order to book a trip with Mike, there are several options open to passengers: You can make the booking via the online system, the RVK app or by phone via the mobility center of regional transport Köln GmbH. As with the previous Taxibusplus model, it is necessary to book the journey at least 30 minutes in advance. Permanent bookings are also possible, which gives users additional planning security.
extension in Blankenheim and Hellenthal
In the municipality of Blankenheim, 46 virtual stops have now been introduced on three Mike lines (824, 832 and 833), which are fell into the existing 63 permanently installed stops. These new stops are distributed in a total of 16 locations within the community. However, Blankenheimerdorf is not equipped with virtual stops, since this place is operated almost exclusively by line 832.
In Hellenthal, on the other hand, 51 places benefit from the newly introduced flexibility. Here, 94 virtual stops are set up in addition to the existing 90 fixed stops and thus expand the Mike lines (837, 838, 839 and 879). These measures lead to a denser and better accessible network of local public transport, especially since many of the new stops are placed in residential areas and thus offer shorter ways for passengers.
In summary, it can be said that the Mike system in the district of Euskirchen makes considerable progress and supports the participating communities of Blankenheim and Hellenthal in their mobility. The initiative promises a further development in the direction of a barrier and digital traffic offerings that should meet the requirements of the future.