Flexible, digital, connected: mobility as a fundamental right in rural areas
Futurologist Dr Stefan Carsten explains why mobility in rural areas is a fundamental right – and how digital, flexible solutions are creating new opportunities for work, education and participation.
Dr Stefan Carsten, futurologist and urban geographer, combines the topics of future, city and mobility in his work. Image: Dr Stefan Carsten
When the next bus isn't due for another two hours... It's a chilly autumn morning in a small village somewhere in Germany. Anna, 72, is standing at the bus stop with her shopping bag. The bus only comes four times a day – and today it's running late again. A spontaneous trip to the doctor or the market in town? Impossible. It is precisely these kinds of situations that futurologist Dr Stefan Carsten wants to prevent in the future. For him, it is clear that mobility is not a luxury, but a fundamental right – for everyone, regardless of where they live. That is why he is also involved as head of the BUS2BUS Advisory Board and curator of the BUS2BUS Future Forum.
For Dr. Stefan Carsten, modern public services in rural areas are about much more than expanding bus routes and increasing service frequency. It's about creating access to work, education, healthcare and social participation. Flexible, digitally connected and climate-friendly solutions must meet people's actual needs – not rigid timetables or outdated structures, says Dr. Carsten.
Innovative projects demonstrate the potential
There are already many examples of how technological innovations are strengthening rural areas.
- KIRA: Testing autonomous driving in public transport in the Rhine-Main area.
- SMILE24: Combining express buses, on-demand shuttles, rental bikes and car sharing in rural tourist areas.
- Mobile Elbe Valley: Future lab for sustainable mobility in the Elbe Valley.
‘Rural areas can be a testing ground for intelligent, scalable mobility solutions.’ However, for such projects to be successful in the long term, infrastructure, political support and a consistent user focus are needed.
Courage instead of administrative routine
Political and structural hurdles remain a major obstacle.
Fragmented responsibilities, outdated financing models and rigid legal frameworks are slowing down many ideas, says Dr Carsten: ‘There is often a lack of shared responsibility across municipal and district boundaries.’ He calls for an infrastructure policy that not only administers but also shapes – with scope for new ideas and incentives for lasting integration and innovation.
Mobility at the Smart Country Convention
For him, the Smart Country Convention is the ideal place to bring theory and practice together. ‘Digitalisation is not an end in itself, but a tool for improving quality of life – especially in rural areas.’
A highlight: On 1 October at 2 p.m., Dr Carsten will speak on the Focus Stage with Sonya Herrmann (Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein), Maximilian Rohs (PwC Germany) and Felix Thielmann (DB Regio AG) in the panel discussion ‘Access instead of dependency – new mobility concepts for rural areas,’ a collaboration between the Smart Country Convention and the BUS2BUS mobility trade fair. His goal: to connect perspectives, provide impetus and jointly develop new ideas for the mobility of tomorrow.
More information about the future of mobility is available here on our website.