Just like other cities, Bad Ischl is suffocated by car traffic – especially in summer, when tourists flock to the city and make their rounds looking for a parking space. The municipality, the tourism association and the local economy are therefore starting a joint attempt to calm the traffic. This summer they are offering a trial of a free shuttle between the Marie-Teresien car park on the outskirts (former Kreuzschwestrn area) and the city centre. The test is intended to provide information on the extent to which drivers accept a park-and-ride system in Bad Ischl.
“Of course, traveling by bike, bus or train remains the best and most climate-friendly solution,” says City Councilor for Climate and Economic Affairs Martin Schott (Greens). “But that’s not always possible. That’s why the shuttle service is a convenient and low-emission solution.” The electrically operated shuttle bus runs every 20 minutes from the car park to the city center and back from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
According to Mayor Ines Schiller, the municipality not only wants to calm traffic with measures of this kind. The tense parking situation should also be defused. “If the measure proves successful, a solution like this can also be developed for other parts of the city in order to be able to offer regular scheduled transport to the city center,” says Schiller.
Not only Bad Ischl is thinking about needs-based bus shuttles. They are also part of a mobility concept of the Salzkammergut Capital of Culture 2024. However, the necessary federal and state support for implementation has not yet been provided. Mayor Ines Schiller: “However, we will not be discouraged.”
Source: Nachrichten
