The City of Augsburg encourages the use of car-sharing, cycling, and public transport via a flat rate that provides a low-cost package for mobility at a fixed monthly price, on top of free public transport in the city zone.
MOBILITY PACKAGES ARE USUALLY LIMITED TO ONE TYPE
Flexible mobility today is crucial for urban areas: buses and trams, cycling when the weather is fine and, if necessary, having a car for the weekly shop, excursions or holidays. Most mobility packages are limited to one means of transport, i.e. car-sharing, bicycle rental, or public transport. Since November 2019, Augsburg's public utility company Stadtwerke Augsburg (SWA) is offering a flat rate solution for mobility. The "swa Mobil-Flat" includes the use of buses and trams, car-sharing, and car and bike rental in Augsburg's city zone and the surrounding region.
TRANSPORT AT A FIXED PRICE
Everyone knows the term "flat rate" from mobile phone tariffs. SWA are now the first to bundle all types of mobility into one product, at a fixed monthly price. The "swa Mobil-Flat" is available in two price packages, for EUR 83 and 115 per month, depending on how often car-sharing is used. These rates include: public transport in Augsburg's city area; 30 minutes of bikes usage multiple times per day; and, car-sharing for 15 hours or 150 km per month (Mobil-Flat S), or up to 30 hours with unlimited kilometres (Mobil-Flat M). In addition, the mobility flat rate offers a special bonus – local public transport in the city's central zone is free of charge.
STAYING MOBILE AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
The "swa Mobil-Flat" clients are encouraged to use all means of environmentally-friendly transport, such as trams, buses, and bicycles in the city zone. Car rental (car-sharing) is incentivised over private car use. By sharing the means of transport, the usage rate of each vehicle increases. The price of Mobil-Flat therefore signifies a good investment in both individual mobility and in sustainable transport generally.
With the City-Zone we are taking an important step towards air pollution control in Augsburg, Through the City-Zone we want to reduce parking place-searching traffic, to make the city centre more attractive for visitors, and to strengthen retail.
