A demand transport system in Klaus (Dorfmobil Klaus)
Best Practice
Topics
Mobility
Regional value added
Short description
A demand responsive transport (DRT) system is organised by volunteers of a private non-profit association in the municipality Klaus in Upper Austria. For this new DRT service the association has chosen the name Dorfmobil which consists of the words Dorf (=village) and mobil (= mobile), as well as Auto(mobil) (=car).
The main objective of the system is to give inhabitants a possibility to reach basic supply (grocer, doctor, post office,...) and public transport stops independently from car availability. Klaus is a small municipality constisting of three small setelments (Steyrling, Klaus, Kniewas) that are quite far from each other.
Project executive
non-profit association “Dorfmobil KSK” consisting of the management, drivers and aiding members
Participants
non-profit organisation “Dorfmobil KSK”, start of the project and support in the first year by Dagmar Meth, Institut für Verkehrswesen, University of Bodenkultur Vienna within the EU ARTS-Project http://www.rural-transport.net
Objectives
The main objective of the system is to give inhabitants of Klaus a possibility to reach basic supply (grocer, doctor, post office,...) and public transport stops independent from car availability.
Activities
An inquiry of inhabitants was done, as well as an evaluation of the Dorfmobil. The project was set up as a result of committed inhabitants, the association bought a leasing-car and offered a door-to-door service.
Process
The Dorfmobil covers the settlement area of Klaus. The service operates on working days from Monday to Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. A ride has to be pre-booked by phone at least half an hour before it is wanted. The average duration of a trip will be about 10 minutes. The Dorfmobil does not operate when a bus is available at the same time. The Dorfmobil offers a door-to-door service.
Existing bus stops are included as meeting points. They are equipped with information boards where the service is described (working hours, phone number,...). After the test period the meeting points can change into stops if it would be needed. The DRT service is done with a new van which was bought in October 2002. It has a capacity of 6 seats (5 passengers and the driver). The driver on duty has the car, the booking-book and the mobile phone at his house.
Results
cheap mobility for all inhabitants, better connection to public transport, grocery stores, doctors aso. The Dorfmobil is used by all people, especially pupils and people older than 65 years. The Dorfmobil is very well accepted in the municipality, it has international and national publicity.
Evaluation
An inquiry was done: Who uses the Dorfmobil? Why is it used? How much does it cost? How old are people using it?
The result: It was suggested to increase the fares because a ride costs 1,50 Euro, which is seen as too cheap.
Difficulties
In Austria taxation issues were identified as a barrier particularly for small services, which do not run as traditional (licenced) public transport or taxi operators, but as private non-profit organisations or as private individuals. The national law actually provides no clear taxation roles for non-profit neighbourhood-organisations.
The insurance of cars, drivers and passengers in Austria is regulated very clearly, if the demand-responsive system is organised by a public transport operator or a taxi company. However, the insurance is not that clear when the rural demand-responsive system is organised and operated by associations or private persons as a non-profit organisation; the responsibility is not very clear in the case of an accident involving damage to persons or property. At the moment it is not clear if the provincial government will co-finance a door to door service any longer.
Budget
17.000 Euro per year (Euro)
Financial backer
income: 4.500 Eur a year, cost per passenger: 5,16 Euro. A ride costs 1,5 Euro, incomes are made by fares, membership-fees, endorsement, subvention from the Federal State of Upper Austria and the EU.
