Active2Public Transport Testing Schemes
Key trigger fact
High car dependency for short daily trips.
Key implementation fact
4-week test with free bikes and public transport.
Key evidence of success fact
7 of 10 participants changed mobility habits.
Key take away
Recruit extra participants and provide route info.
Challenge addressed: Reducing car dependency in daily commuter mobility
The pilot addressed the strong dependence on private cars for everyday mobility in rural areas of Burgenland, where many daily trips are short but still predominantly made by car. Participants identified convenience, time pressure, insufficient public transport connections, and limited cycling infrastructure as main barriers to sustainable mobility. The pilot was introduced to test whether direct experience with bicycles and public transport can reduce these barriers and trigger behavioural change.
Solution implemented: 4-week real-life mobility substitution test
Ten regular car users temporarily stopped using private cars and tested daily mobility with e-bikes, a folding bike, walking, and public transport over four weeks. Bicycles and public transport tickets were provided free of charge. Participants documented their experiences through questionnaires, photos, and reports before, during, and after the test period to evaluate behavioural change and practical barriers in everyday mobility.
Results achieved: 7 of 10 changed mobility behaviour
The practice was implemented through a structured four-week pilot with ten selected participants in Burgenland, carried out in three monthly phases. Participants received e-bikes, a folding bike and public transport tickets, enabling direct testing of first- and last-mile combinations between active mobility and public transport. Three questionnaires (before, immediately after, and two months later) measured behavioural change, satisfaction, and persistence of effects. Regular photo documentation and feedback reports supported qualitative evaluation.
The practice is considered good because measurable effects were achieved: seven participants changed their mobility behaviour, 200–300 car trips were replaced, and average savings reached €207.50 per person. It improved A2PT by demonstrating that practical access to bicycles and public transport increases acceptance of multimodal travel and identifies infrastructure gaps such as missing bike lanes, poor path quality and limited public transport frequency. These findings provide directly usable evidence for future stakeholder decisions on infrastructure, service quality, and user-oriented mobility planning.
Lessons learned: Provide buffer participants and route guidance
For replication in other regions, participant dropout must be anticipated by recruiting more people than the minimum sample size. A wider range of bicycle sizes and models should be available to fit different user needs. Participants also need basic information on safe cycling routes and existing infrastructure before testing begins, especially where cycling is uncommon. Infrastructure quality and public transport frequency strongly influence long-term acceptance of A2PT solutions.
Cross Links
Contact: Mobilitätszentrale Burgenland
The project Active2Public Transport is supported by the Interreg Danube Region Programme project co-funded by the European Union. The project was initiated by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI), Department II/6 in cooperation with klimaaktiv mobil – the Austrian Federal climate protection initiative on sustainable mobility.