The introduction of the €9 ticket in 2022 has intensified the discussion about the transportation turnaround. For all the ideas and proposals on the subject of mobility, one thing seems clear: Innovative transportation concepts must take individual needs and requirements into account if they are to be successful. But the offerings so far, especially in the area of car, bike and e-scooter sharing, are predominantly located in urban centers. Smaller cities and mid-sized centers are currently mostly underserved.

Combining sharing services

In her dissertation, Franziska Weiser therefore investigates whether and to what extent innovative transport services can change the mobility behavior of residents of medium-sized centers such as Rüsselsheim and Eltville. She focuses on combined solutions that combine vehicle-sharing services with the offer of a digital delivery service and an app-based ride-sharing service in order to meet as many mobility needs as possible.

Survey and involvement of local residents

To determine the status quo in German mid-sized centers, it first surveys the current mobility behavior of residents and asks how they imagine their future mobility. In a second step, a new multi-option mobility solution will be introduced in selected residential neighborhoods and its adoption and use will be analyzed with recurring surveys and data collection. The initiative will be flanked by the active involvement and information of residents as well as playful incentives for use. Its goal is to identify those service modules that motivate residents to increase their use and that can be transferred to other cities.