As part of the Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021–2027 project “SuRuMo” (Sustainable Rural Mobility), the Kurzeme Planning Region organised three community meetings in October. These took place on 13 October in Ķūļciems and Pļavas (Talsi Municipality), on 15 October in Alsunga (Kuldīga Municipality), and on 16 October in Vāne (Tukums Municipality). The aim of the meetings was to provide residents with initial information about the new mobility solutions that will soon be introduced – on-demand transport and the new “Freelway” application, which will also make it easier to organise shared rides.
“We would like to thank residents for their participation and active engagement in the discussions about the upcoming mobility solutions. It was important for us to inform local communities first that, within the framework of the ‘SuRuMo’ project, a new transport service – on-demand transport – will soon become available in the Kurzeme region. This will help residents reach their destinations more easily, especially in areas where public transport runs infrequently,” explained Anna Margreta Vērdiņa, Project Manager of “SuRuMo” at the Kurzeme Planning Region.
On-demand transport is a relatively new type of service that combines the advantages of public transport and taxi services. Journeys will be bookable via the “Freelway” mobile application or by phone, with passengers specifying the starting point, destination, and preferred departure or return time. Trips are shared with other passengers, and the route is adjusted according to demand. The service will be available on working days from 04:00 to 23:00, and journeys must be booked by 14:00 on the previous working day. This is the first solution of its kind in the Kurzeme region, introduced with the support of the SuRuMo project.
Shared mobility means that a driver uses their own vehicle to transport other people who are travelling in the same direction. This will be enabled by the “Freelway” application, which is widely used in other European countries, such as Sweden. Within the SuRuMo project, the application is being adapted for use in Latvia — in the Kurzeme and Riga Planning Regions. Through the app, residents will be able to request journeys as passengers or register as drivers to offer their routes to others, promoting a culture of ride-sharing and mutual support.
According to Anna Margreta Vērdiņa, on-demand transport will be introduced in Alsunga and Vāne first, as suitable service providers have already been identified in these areas.
“We are continuing to look for transport providers in Ķūļciems and Pļavas so that residents there can also benefit from this service. The involvement and suggestions of local residents have been extremely valuable and will help us find the most suitable solution for each location,” she noted.
It is important to emphasise that, during the pilot phase, the on-demand transport service will operate within the boundaries of the designated villages – Alsunga and Vāne.
Residents of Alsunga will be able to travel between Alsunga, Jūrkalne and Kuldīga, while residents of Vāne will be able to travel between Vāne, Kandava and Sabile, with return journeys included.
There are also plans for residents of Ķūļciems to use on-demand transport to reach Talsi, Lauciene and Mērsrags, and return, while residents of Pļavas would be able to travel to Talsi and Lauciene and back.
Across all of these locations, shared rides will also be available via the “Freelway” application, which connects nearby passengers and drivers, allowing residents to organise shared journeys easily and reduce travel costs.
Alongside the introduction of these new mobility solutions, the Kurzeme Planning Region will carry out information and awareness-raising activities to explain how on-demand transport and the “Freelway” app work, how to book journeys, and how residents can make use of these services in their daily lives.
About the project
The project “SuRuMo” (Sustainable Rural Mobility) is implemented to conduct research in pilot areas, collect and analyse data, and develop a unified digital platform, thereby finding solutions to ensure sustainable mobility in rural areas.
The project activities are carried out with the support of the Central Baltic Programme 2021–2027.
Information prepared by:
Anna Margreta Vērdiņa
Project Manager of “SuRuMo”
Kurzeme Planning Region
Tel. +371 27000178
E-mail: anna.verdina@kurzemesregions.lv
