Mobility and Accessibility in Rural Areas – new approaches for developing mobility concepts in remote areas (MARA)

In remote rural areas, the provision of satisfying mobility solutions is a major challenge that affects the development opportunities of a region. Due to larger distances and fewer customers than in urban areas, many rural public transport services have problems to be economically efficient. The implementation of effective solutions is hampered by the lack of information on the actual habits and needs of the population and tourists in the context of mobility, taking into account commuting and seasonal mobility.

The MARA project will address the above-mentioned shortcomings of the existing system to improve the accessibility and quality of mobility services in rural areas. By upgrading the existing mobility services system, developing and testing innovative and sustainable mobility solutions, MARA project partners want to strengthen the capacity of organizations responsible for regional and local mobility and professionals to address multi-faceted mobility challenges. This place-based approach is a core element of MARA and an important part of the EU 2020 strategy.