Thinking differently about mobility in low-density European areas

Some low-density areas in Europe are quietly implementing small-scale mobility solutions, prioritising access over speed, flexibility over scale and treating low density as a reality, not a problem “to fix”. 

In some alpine regions of Switzerland, the iconic yellow PostBus has been turned into an on-demand transportation service, called PubliCar, that residents can book via app or phone, sometimes just 30 minutes before departure time. The vehicles adjust their routes to pick up multiple passengers, and run in areas where fixed bus lines would be nearly empty. 

In the Brandenburg region in Germany, authorities are testing a hybrid system between bus services and ride sharing, in which villages function with virtual bus stops, such as street corners. Users request a ride via an app, and the system integrates their bus trip with regional train timetables. Vehicles feed passengers into main transport corridors instead of duplicating them.