It still sounds futuristic, but by 2025, the public transport taxi (ÖPNV-Taxi), which passengers can book via an app, is set to come to the Harz district. Preparations are currently being made as part of the "harzbewegt" model project.
How does the public transport taxi work, and how can it be introduced in a way that benefits both public transport passengers and local taxi companies? To find out, project leaders traveled to the Black Forest in July 2024, as the Freudenstadt district was the first in Germany to introduce the public transport taxi in 2022.
Here's how it works:
This service is based on a partnership with local taxi companies, which offer these on-demand rides whenever they don't have a regular taxi fare. When a passenger requests a ride, the system first checks if there is a suitable public transport connection available during the requested time. If not, a public transport taxi connection is suggested for booking. If another person requests the same route at the same time, they can share the ride.
'We were able to try out the public transport taxi in Freudenstadt ourselves: just ordered via the app, and off we went,' says Nadine Abrecht, who is responsible for the "harzbewegt" model project in the Harz district. 'We were convinced by the concept, and from our extensive discussions with colleagues in the Freudenstadt district, we know that the service is well received by passengers there.' No surprise, as they pay the lower public transport fare instead of the regular taxi meter rate.