Lüchow-Dannenberg district introduces new on-demand transport service

The district of Lüchow-Dannenberg is now offering a new on-demand service. These are flexible special trips that can be booked as required. The on-demand vehicles take passengers either to a bus stop, from where they can continue their journey, or directly to their destination. This covers the so-called "last mile", i.e. the connection to the starting point or destination. This service complements the regular bus service in the Wendland region, explains the district. To make the new public transport service possible, the district is cooperating with local cab and rental car companies. A special agreement has been made for this, which includes compensation payments.

"Guaranteeing a local transport connection to all villages is a milestone for the development of mobility in Wendland. This will make it possible to be mobile throughout the day and participate in cultural, social and community life even without a driver's license or your own car. With this pilot project, we can test whether this is also financially viable," explains District Administrator Dagmar Schulz at the launch of the new service. The idea for on-demand transport came from the "Clever MoWe" public transport model project, which was approved by the district council and is now being tested in everyday life. This year, the needs, routes and costs are being evaluated in practice. The long-term goal is to establish an attractive and financially viable public transport system in Wendland.

In addition to the Wendland day ticket (5 euros), there is a surcharge of one euro for travel in an on-demand vehicle (reduced 50 percent). Severely disabled passengers also receive free door-to-door service. The on-demand service can be booked via a specially developed app or by telephone. The service is available daily from early in the morning until late at night. The exact times vary depending on the day of the week. The new on-demand transport service will be financed in 2024 via the "CleverMoWe" project, which is funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs.