ioki | Website Systembild | Logo negativ

/ Reading: 3 min.

24. Jan 2023
/ Germany
What is… a mobility guarantee?  
A mobility guarantee is
1) a voluntary service provided by transport companies for delayed means of transport  

2) an increased expansion of public transport services to achieve the climate targets  

1) Many transport companies offer their passengers voluntary mobility guarantees. This means that if a bus or train is delayed, by 10, 15 or 20 minutes or more at the departure stop, passengers can use alternative means of transport or receive a pro-rata refund of the fare. The amount of the refund and from which minute of delay this voluntary “mobility guarantee” takes effect is determined by the transport companies in their tariff and transport regulations. In addition, the European provisions on statutory passenger rights in rail transport apply.

Examples of a voluntary mobility guarantee: The RMV 10-minute guarantee, the mobility promise and mobility guarantee of the Braunschweiger Verkehrs GmbH or also the NRW mobility guarantee.

2) But: Mobility guarantee can also mean that federal states commit to provide their population with a public transport service within a certain period. In this case, a mobility guarantee means obligatory or targeted minimum service standards for public transport – in terms of quality and availability.

Examples of a political mobility guarantee:
According to a guideline of the federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, “all places (built-up areas) in the conurbations are reliably connected at least every 15 minutes and in rural areas every 30 minutes at the usual service times”.

In Hamburg, the market share of public transport is to increase to 30 percent by 2030. To ensure that more people switch to public transport, the so-called Hamburg-Takt is linked to the project: By 2030, every person in Hamburg should be able to reach a public transport offer with optimal service and high quality within five minutes from morning to evening.

Latest article

Perspectives from Jens Kukuk, Operations Manager at DB Regio Bus Mitte GmbH

Perspectives from Jens Kukuk, Operations Manager at DB Regio Bus Mitte GmbH

Simple, flexible, dependable – high demands are placed on both the control centre and the drivers in bus operations. It is helpful when you can count on reliable software for route management and navigation. Since December 2023, our ioki Route software has been in operation in Speyer. We spoke with Jens Kukuk, Operations Manager at DB Regio Bus Mitte GmbH, about their experience with ioki Route. He explains how the software has changed the daily working routine of drivers on their bus routes and shares his insights from over a year of practical implementation.

Related articles

What is a railway station of the future?

What is a railway station of the future?

Railway stations of the future (known in German as ‘Zukunftsbahnhöfe’) are modern mobility hubs that go far beyond the classic function of a train station. Deutsche Bahn is developing stations across Germany into these innovative mobility hubs as part of its ‘Zukunftsbahnhof’ programme, focused on three key characteristics: customer-oriented for greater attractiveness, high-performing to accommodate more travellers, and sustainable in construction and operation. As part of this targeted modernisation programme, selected stations are being developed into attractive transport hubs according to uniform standards.

What is the difference between dial-a-ride services and public transport taxis?

What is the difference between dial-a-ride services and public transport taxis?

Flexible mobility solutions, such as demand-responsive transport (DRT), are becoming increasingly important – particularly in areas where traditional scheduled bus services are not financially viable. Two terms often used in the context of DRT are “dial-a-ride” and “public transport taxi”. But what exactly distinguishes these services?