Commuter network
A commuter network is a regional system for creating car pools . Here, a commuter network differs from conventional car sharing agencies . There are not supra-regional carpooling options between larger cities - as is usual with carpooling agencies.
Commuter networks are aimed primarily at work and training commuters, as well as road users in shopping and leisure traffic . A commuter network is mostly offered by the public sector. Existing commuter networks are set up as a citizen service or as a component of integrated traffic management .
Development history
The commuter network concept was developed in June 2000 by the private company EuropeAlive. During the development, suggestions from the traffic planner Dr. Tree taken into account. The pilot project for a commuter network in the Bonn / Rhein-Sieg region started on October 10, 2000 . The pilot project in Bonn and the surrounding area generated greater interest from across Germany. Since there were no practical examples for regional carpooling, it took until autumn 2002 for the first regional authorities to decide to use a commuter network.
The Stuttgart commuter network was opened on September 13, 2002, as a service offered by the city of Stuttgart to its citizens. This commuter network was made possible by the EU project ISCOM (Information Systems for Combined Mobility Management). A regional commuter network in North Rhine-Westphalia has existed since September 27, 2002 , which arose from an initiative of the local Agenda 21 in 14 districts and independent cities. This commuter network expanded at times to 38 independent cities and districts. As part of the local Agenda 21, this commuter network was funded by the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of the Environment until February 2007.
The Rhine-Main commuter network started on May 25, 2004. Initiated by the Society for Integrated Traffic Management Rhein-Main (ivm GmbH), the service for citizens consists of 17 districts and independent cities in Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate . In the meantime, districts in Bavaria and Lower Saxony have also joined the commuter network.
On January 6th, 2009 the portal Mitpendler started in North Rhine-Westphalia . This is offered by the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr ( VRR ) together with 28 (summer 2009) cities and districts in NRW as a citizen service. A special feature of the non-commercial portal is the integration of the data from the EFA electronic timetable information . This means that if no suitable car pool can be found, an alternative trip by bus and train is automatically issued. In addition, intermodal connections through the combination of public transport and car pool connections are displayed. Co-commuters can be used in all 54 districts and cities in North Rhine-Westphalia.