Together for green mobility: Strengthen public transport in Göppingen and Ostalb!

Together for green mobility: Strengthen public transport in Göppingen and Ostalb!

As part of the European Mobility Week, an important meeting took place on September 26, 2025 in the meeting room of the town hall in Birenbach, Göppingen district. Representatives from the districts of Göppingen and Ostalbkreis, as well as from municipalities, companies and the Federal Environment Agency came together to develop joint strategies for environmentally friendly mobility. District administrators Markus Möller (Göppingen) and Joachim Bläse (Ostalbkreis) as well as Mayor Michael Matzak of Birenbach emphasized that their goal is to set an example for mobility across district borders. The population of Birenbach is given as 1,900.

The infrastructure of the Göppingen district offers a promising basis for improving local public transport. Positive aspects are the good public transport connections, the two existing cycle paths and the former railway line between Schwäbisch Gmünd and Göppingen. The operating bus lines include the 931, 932 and the express bus line X93 to Lorch, which provides a direct connection to regional transport (MEX) and long-distance transport (IC to Nuremberg and Karlsruhe).

Optimization of bus routes and new offers

A central topic of the meeting was the new tender for bus routes 931, 932 and 935, which now promise optimized connections and shorter journey times. The measures are also intended to lead to better connections with long-distance transport, including through an accelerated route via Adelberg and the introduction of a new line from Unter- and Oberberken to Schorndorf. These changes will be implemented as a more coherent overall offer without additional costs, and in some cases even with savings for the Göppingen district. As part of the state regional bus program, 50 percent funding is provided by the state.

Another outstanding project is the e-car sharing offer from DEER Mobility, which is being implemented in cooperation with Albwerk Geislingen and several cities and municipalities in the district. The district-wide network includes over 20 e-car sharing stations, including one in Birenbach, and offers flexible, station-independent usage options, including beyond the borders, for example to Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Munich airports.

Promoting cycling and accessibility

Interest in cycling in the Göppingen district has increased enormously due to the pandemic. This was recently rewarded with the award as a “bicycle-friendly district”, for which the state quality seal was awarded in 2024. A cycling concept for 2025 provides for concrete improvements, including the “Schurwald route” and the Göppingen-Schäbisch Gmünd state long-distance cycle path as well as the construction of a new cycle path along the B297 between Waschenbeuren and Birenbach. The cycle path network is also being further expanded in the Ostalbkreis, which requires considerable human and financial resources.

Another important aspect of the mobility concept is accessibility. Here, the district representative for the disabled, Tina Schwenk, sets clear priorities to ensure “mobility for everyone”. The meeting received great recognition and praise, especially from Claudia Kieso from the Federal Environment Agency, who gave positive feedback on the mobility week. The initiative is seen as an important step towards innovative transport solutions and sustainable mobility in municipalities.

This joint effort by the two districts is an example of successful collaborations that can emerge despite challenging conditions. The focus is on improving citizens' quality of life and promoting sustainable mobility solutions, which ultimately also relieves the burden on the environment.

The European Mobility Week, which now looks back on 23 years of experience, is held annually from September 16th to 22nd and aims to support innovative approaches to transport in municipalities.