1. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net Ingrid Briesner THE FIRST AUSTRIAN MOBILITY CENTER MOBILITY CENTRES THE EXAMPLE OF

2. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net On these findings, FGM AMOR started with planning an information center. It follows successful examples from abroad, like the mobility centre in Hameln (Germany) and OVAS, the Dutch information centre for public transport. In 1993, a market analysis came to the conclusion that a main constraint concerning the use of public transport means are the difficulties in getting information. Who took the initiative and when?

3. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net... to facilitate the use of public transport for passengers and future passengers The aim was:... to promote various other facilities of the public transport such as carsharing, carpooling or collective taxi... to get more potential users to actually try out PT and eventually change mobility behaviour However, it turns out not to be so easy to start things in this way

4. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net Labouring pains The planned collective taxi disposition had to be eliminated from the plans With all potential players and financiers it turned out to be very difficult to get the decision to support or finance a part of the mobility centre. It was running around in circles until two strategies broke this pattern: 2. …to look for projects and support within the EU. 1.…to start with just a very moderate pilot project in 1996. This new medium was going to be the Verbund-Hotline.

5. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net Step by step This led to the second step: First step – „Verbund Hotline“ (pilot project, start: February 1996): Integrated information by telephone for the whole public transport in Styria Managment of carsharing Financed bei the Styrian Transport Association (StVG), FGM AMOR and a carsharing company. Run by FGM AMOR. After one year: The Verbund Hotline got 40 calls a day on the average, 80% of them were content with the new service.

6. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net After confirmation of the EU to support the foundation and the initial phase of Mobil Zentral, the Province of Styria and City of Graz agreed to participate in financing the project. from „Verbund Hotline“ to „Mobil Zentral“ So the Verbund Hotline was extended to Mobil Zentral in September 1997.

7. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net Mobil Zentral in Graz was the first mobility centre of Austria. The second one in Pongau opened in 2001. Others are planned. Actual situation Mobil Zentral is a focal point within the city to make the accessibility of public transport easier. Mobil Zentral is not concerned with transport planning or tendering procedures for the operations of public services. Mobil Zentral offers services for all users of public and private transport. The integrated transport information is a main goal concerning the foundation of Mobil Zentral.

8. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net Mobil Zentral is a common project of AMOR, StVG, City of Graz and Province of Styria Mobil Zentral is steered and controlled by an advisory board. The financing bodies are members of the advisory board. Mobil Zentral is financed by: StVG City of Graz Province of Styria ÖBB Postbus GmbH Ticket sales Mobil Zentral is run by FGM AMOR

9. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net 1. Information 4. Personal Consulting 5. Bike 6. Other Services Functions 2. The Office in the City 3. Leisure Time

10. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net It drives me crazy !!! If you want to go from A to B you often need 4 telephone numbers to plan the trip.... and if the information of transport operators doesn´t fit together you have to start from the very beginning! One Call does it all! 1. Information Whereever you want to go, Mobil Zentral has the information on fares and timetables of the whole transport system and all transport operators in Styria. Mobil Zentral knows all the price reductions and special trips and bargains of the ÖBB (national railways) and all the bus operators

11. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net One gets information...... by phone... by mail, fax or e-mail... or personally in the office

12. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net 2. The Office in the City Here you find tickets, reservations, and everything... you need for your journey

13. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net Office Phone Access Mon–Fri: 8:00 - 18:00 7:00 - 19:00 Sat: 9:00 - 13:00 9:00 - 13:00 Mobil Zentral is open from...

14. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net 3. Leisure Time Mobil Zentral offers free services for planning of leisure time trips: Expositions, Hiking,... Walking, Biking,

15. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net 4. Bikes Rent a bike – with or without trailer

16. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net 5. Personal Consulting Which insurances for cyclists? Mobil Zentral knows the answer...... and if not, they‘ll find it for you! Are there interest groups for cyclists and users of public transport? Where to apply for a traffic calming in the street where you live? You take care of a mobility impaired person and need to know about special transport facilities?

17. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net 6. Other Services Mobil Zentral also...... manages complaints... conducts telephone marketing campaigns to regain p.t. customers... acts as a service and information point for car sharing... realises projects (e.g. the „European Car-Free-Day“)... and provides all kinds of mobility related products

18. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net The Mobil Zentral - Shop Tickets and reservations Transport games for children Transport literature Bike-Line maps Timetables Merchandise

19. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net Human Ressources The management – 38,5 hours / week 8 part-time employees 25 - 30 hours/week Training Public transport (supply, operators, timetables, linked transport systems, legal framework, organization and financing) Efficient timetables reading with/without the aid of computers Conflict strategies Complaint management Efficient telephony Time management

20. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net It is not possible to guess how many additional public transport trips are generated by Mobil Zentral, but...... the increasing use shows the importance of providing one information service for the whole public transport system. What started with 40 calls per week, has risen up to 190 calls per day Office – from 0 up to 140 customers per day Performance – a success story

21. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net News... Relocation to the Steinfeldhaus Mobil Zentral moves even more to the city centre. In August 2004 the mobility centre moved in a modern customer center at the Jakominiplatz. A customer-oriented competence centre for public transport user was created together with the Grazer Verkehrsbetriebe. ÖBB Postbus GmbH In the course of the relocation ÖBB Postbus GmbH could be gained as fincning partner. An employee of Postbus is working in the team of the mobility centre and offers a lot of contribution with his know-how which is of high profit for the work of the mobility centre. Bahnerlebnis Steiermark Furthermore „Bahnerlebnis Steiermark“ could be won as cooperating partner. Thus the offer of the mobility centre grew, because touristic attractions can be promoted and sold.

22. Mobility Centres www.transportlearning.net The Future Networking of single mobility centres in Austria According to the implementation study in 1999 a new mobility centre at the train station Bischofhofen has opened in 2001. Further mobility centres are planned. The aim is the establishment of an Austrian wide network. Thus it is possible to offer the customers and potential users of public transport sustainable mobility and an environmentally friendly tourism all over Austria. Mobility information for the whole country can be obtained by calling one single number. Further cooperations MZ is open for numerous more cooperations for the benefit of pt user.