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End of an era: Aurich's call bus abolished after 20 years!
The dial-a-bus service in Aurich will be discontinued after 20 years. A new mobility concept is to be developed for January 2024.
End of an era: Aurich's call bus abolished after 20 years!
The dial-a-bus in Aurich has played an important role in local transport since its introduction in 2004. It was created to meet the needs of citizens struggling with inadequate bus services. This unique, flexible service offered people the opportunity to book rides by phone and thus easily reach the city center. But the dial-a-bus service has been temporarily discontinued since the beginning of June 2023. A new mobility concept is scheduled to be presented this January 2024, while the city is looking for new partners in the field of passenger transport. NWZOnline reports on these developments that affect public transport in Aurich.
The operating hours of the dial-a-bus were on weekdays, Monday to Friday, from 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. and from 2:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Trips had to be booked by phone at least one hour in advance. It was necessary to specify the destination address in order to be picked up on time. Citizens were able to get to various stops in the city within 15 to 30 minutes. However, when traveling further to more remote areas, a longer travel time had to be planned. Despite the practical handling, many users reported unsatisfactory experiences, for example with the local knowledge of the call center employees. Rosemarie Legendre, a long-time user of the dial-a-bus, emphasizes the reliability and importance of the service for older people who rely on the bus. Auricher Taxenzentrale supports these statements with information on the individual registration criteria.
Challenges and future prospects
In recent years, the dial-a-bus has faced various challenges. Particularly during the Corona pandemic, the fare was temporarily eliminated in order to alleviate social hardship. Demand increasingly fell from 2021 onwards, making the system increasingly expensive for the city - around 300,000 euros annually. In addition, allegations of “ghost buses” and the unfriendliness of the call center contributed to a negative perception of the service. The city of Aurich has been heavily burdened financially in recent years and is facing a deficit of around 20 million euros; the call bus was no longer viable. NWZOnline refers to these problems and the uncertain future for the dial-a-bus.
The discussion about traffic design in Aurich is now being reignited. For many citizens, especially seniors, the dial-a-bus continues to be indispensable for shopping, doctor's visits and other necessary errands. The SPD/GAP therefore proposes an AI-supported demand bus system. Such systems could replace the dial-a-bus to enable flexible and needs-based journeys. ioki emphasizes that information and barrier-free offers are the key to satisfactory public mobility, especially for older people.
In summary, it can be said that, despite its discontinuation, the dial-a-bus service in Aurich is not a thing of the past. The problem of public transport for older citizens may even be an impetus to develop innovative solutions and concepts that meet the needs of society in terms of both frequency and accessibility. The coming months will show what new paths the city of Aurich will take.