Murnau local bus "Omobi": Taxi driver complains about "disastrous" consequences - "We are fighting for survival"

Created: 01/27/2022, 07:00

By: Roland Lory

Not enthusiastic: Taxi driver Andreas Zervas, who posted himself at Murnau train station.

© Bartl

What happens next with the Murnau local bus?

The market council will deal with this question this Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, a Murnau taxi driver is expressing massive criticism of the system.

Murnau

– The thing upsets him, Andreas Zervas makes no secret of it.

"I'm not indifferent and emotionless." It's about the Murnau local bus "Omobi".

Zervas is a taxi driver.

He says: "It's disastrous in effect.

We fight to survive.”

Flashback: On July 1, 2020, the Murnau local bus Omobi started.

The market community relied on a concept that works flexibly and needs-based.

The local bus is currently in service from Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Murnau, Seehausen and Riegsee.

The 25,000th passenger was welcomed in December (we reported).

A nail in the coffin for the taxi business

But the enthusiasm of Taxler Zervas is limited.

He considers the bus to be "illegal sponsorship".

In his opinion, the state and municipality promote “unfair competition”.

"The watering can created competition." And thus one of several "nails in the coffin" for the taxi business in Murnau.

“We have far fewer local trips.

Those who have to survive on the market without subsidies are left in the dark.” Zervas is certain: “It would have needed a dialogue with the taxi drivers in advance.

A different solution could have been worked out there.”

As reported by the town hall, the taxi companies were surveyed in September 2020.

"It turned out that none of the companies contacted was interested in a cooperation," says Deputy Managing Director Nina Herweck-Bockhorni.

"The displeasure of the taxi company is understandable, because an improvement in public transport will always represent a certain degree of competition with the taxi industry." On the other hand, there are also advantages that are still reserved for the taxi companies.

"In addition to the exclusive transportation, for example, the transportation that is completely flexible in terms of location and time and the unlimited possibility of pre-booking should be mentioned here." Taxi companies are not tied to specific operating times and areas.

"The Murnau market is trying to find solutions

geared towards the needs and interests of the majority of citizens.

It has been shown here that the local bus is very well received.”

Expansion of patient transport by BRK

What Herweck-Bockhorni also points out: "In a telephone survey of the taxi companies in October 2021, the interviewees did not comment negatively on the introduction of the local bus in terms of capacity utilization or the economic situation.

The cessation of several taxi companies probably had various reasons and cannot be directly attributed to the introduction of the local bus.

The Omobi is known to be a top-up business. One person who is worried about the numbers is CSU local councilor Josef Bierling. The customer has to shell out two euros if he wants to use the Omobi. But if you include the subsidies, it's 17/18 euros per trip, says Bierling. "It's just too high. This is tax money that the general public pays.” Regardless of whether the funds come from the Murnau market or from the state. Bierling emphasizes that he is not against public transport. "I think that's important. But it has to work and be financially viable.” He also points out that the state subsidies could eventually run out.

Tonight, an evaluation of the further operation of the local bus is on the agenda of the market town council.

Because the contract initially runs until June 2022. In addition, a fundamental decision is to be made.

But Bierling is too early.

You have to look at the data carefully.

"We need a bit of time to let that sink in."

Probst: Still a lot to clarify

That's how transport officer Welf Probst (free voters) sees it.

"We can't do it that easily.

It's a far-reaching decision.” Basically, on-demand systems are a good thing.

"But there are still a few things that need to be clarified." For example: "What effects does this have on the taxi trade?"

The municipality does not want to comment on figures in advance. "We don't want to anticipate any discussion in the municipal council meeting," says town hall spokeswoman Annika Röttinger. However, there is information on the evaluation, for which the environmental department is responsible - a concept is analyzed and evaluated. "From the point of view of the Murnau market, the introduction of the local bus represents an important further development of public transport." The feedback from the population is very positive. "This offer is a real improvement, especially for people who don't have access to a car," says Roettinger. For seniors, for example, the local bus represents an invaluable contribution to social participation as well as to personal independence and the associated quality of life."In children and young people, it promotes independence and helps to expand their range of leisure activities." According to Röttinger, the number of passengers significantly exceeds the original expectation (30 per day), and the deficit has been roughly halved compared to the initial cost estimate due to increased subsidies and higher passenger numbers .

Rolling through the streets of Murnau since July 1, 2020: the local bus.

Here he is in front of City Hall.

©Omobi

Meanwhile, the local Greens association unanimously voted in favor of continuing to operate the Omobi at a meeting. "In view of the current traffic situation in Murnau, but also with a view to the mobility revolution, a call bus is indispensable," says a press release. Murnau needs an attractive public transport with all available components, one of which is definitely a call bus. The speakers Petra Daisenberger and Birgit Hammer: "We urgently need alternatives to private transport. Omobi has been a success story since it was introduced, the system must be continued and expanded.” But the local association is also clear:"The system is not yet perfect and therefore it must be further optimized during continued operation using modern technical systems and supported by and in cooperation with the district." At the same time, according to the press release, it is important to further expand local public transport in the Blue Land.

The session

In addition to the local bus, the following topics are on the agenda of the market town council on Thursday evening in the culture and conference center from 7 p.m.: Commemoration of Elisabeth Betzmeir (former employee at the Murnau market);

Citizen Question Time;

establishment of a kindergarten group in Hochried;

Introduction of extended lunchtime care at the James Loeb Elementary School;

Change in the 2022 position plan.