MULTIMOTIV

The conscious use of different means of transport in everyday mobility (multimodality) can contribute to sustainable mobility by breaking down rigid patterns of use in private motorised transport (MIV) and thus promoting the use of the environmental network. The mostly diverse traffic offer in urban areas offers alternatives to MIT. The usually less dense and less broad traffic offer in rural areas complicates a multimodal traffic behaviour. The objectives of the MULTIMOTIV project were: (1) to improve the current knowledge of multimodal transport behaviour of people living in rural areas, (2) for the first time in German-speaking countries to comprehensively survey multimodality and based on this (3) to develop tools, measures and methods for planning, policy, implementation and evaluation in a participatory process that increases awareness of multimodal mobility in rural areas.

Client: bmvit, mobility of the future, 4th call for tenders

Duration: March 2015 to August 2017 (29 months)

Project partners: Vienna University of Technology, komobile w7 GmbH, komobile Gmunden, FACTUM Chaloupka & Risser OG, pn-venture OG

Project description:

The practical examples of multimodality in rural areas analysed are primarily aimed at reducing auto use and increasing the use of the environmental network. A few practical examples integrate the advantages of auto use in structurally weak rural areas and contribute to multimodality in so far as the change between the roles of MIV driver as well as MIV passenger is supported.

In the three test communities Kirchberg an der Pielach (Lower Austria), Ottensheim (Upper Austria) and Sankt Georgen near Salzburg (Austria), the objective mobility offer was surveyed and the mobility situation was discussed with representatives of the community and the population in individual interviews and focus groups. Participants from all test communities are open to the topic of multimodal mobility and are all multimodal to varying degrees. For example, the mobility patterns of people from the rural communities of Kirchberg an der Pielach and St. Georgen are currently characterised by strong auto use, while people in Ottensheim mainly use the environmental network, which is well developed due to its proximity to the city of Linz.

Based on these results and the findings of the OPERMO study, a quarterly multimodality survey was conducted in the three test communities over a period of 12 months. The results clearly showed the influence of the length of the selected observation period. Looking at an entire week, the proportion of those who only use one means of transport is drastically reduced. If one compares the communities among themselves, it is striking that in Ottensheim the proportion of monomodal persons is relatively low and the proportion of highly multimodal persons is relatively high. In Kirchberg and St. Georgen on the other hand, the use of an auto for almost all purposes is not only possible but in many cases also absolutely necessary. Following the survey, a future workshop was held in all three municipalities in which current topics and solutions for the future were discussed.

The basis for the design of the multimodality tool was the preparatory work in the project and the analysis of existing awareness-raising tools in the field of mobility. In the focus group discussions, the mobility survey and the future workshops in particular, key elements relevant to the design of the multimodality tool were developed. The result is a tool that is based on 5 modules and a “toolbox” in the sense of a collection of methods and support methods for raising awareness of multimodality in rural spaces. Within the framework of the business analysis it was worked out that even with a very small number of procedures per year a cost recovery or a considerable profit can be expected in the project. The economic view shows a positive economic benefit through the use of the multimodality tool.

Within the scope of the potential assessment, the modular multimodality tool was evaluated with regard to practicability and application potential, further development needs were identified and an outlook for further research projects was outlined. It was shown that the developed modular multimodality tool has great potential for upgrading and making the transport system in rural areas more attractive. The further development essentially comprises the prototypical development of a “community tool” or the conception and implementation of a “citizen tool” to support awareness raising with regard to multimodality.

Contact: DI Dr. Alex Neumann, MA MSc