The project LINK was done together with Carl Bahra a student from the Kunsthochschule Weißensee during the course "Future of Urban Mobility". The course was a partnership with BMW to explore solutions for current mobility problems in cities.
LINK aims for demand-oriented mobility for commuters in suburban areas. People who commute between their place of residence and workplace in the periphery of cities often have unnecessarily long travel distances: Since public transportation is usually oriented towards the city center in a star-shaped pattern, commuters have to travel into the city center first to reach the periphery elsewhere. As a result, they primarily rely on their own cars instead of public transportation. LINK is a service that registers the demand for commuter routes. It allows commuters to have direct influence on route design themselves and reduces individual traffic.
LINK is a service supported by public transportation. It is used for planning tangential commuter routes in the periphery. Starting from pilot routes with small vehicles, commuters enter their individual route needs. In addition to the route, specific requirements are registered. If there are significant deviations from the pilot routes, they are modified accordingly. This could involve expanding the route or providing opportunities to transport bicycles. Individual interests such as assistance for boarding or special space requirements are also taken into account. The more commuters use LINK, the more tailored the route network becomes to their needs.
A central tool of LINK is an interactive map. It visualizes all existing and used routes. When a commuter enters their route with time, destination, and individual needs, the map displays ride-sharing opportunities. Boarding locations and time windows can be flexibly managed, increasing the options for rides.
By involving commuters in route design, public transportation becomes a comfortable alternative to individual traffic.