LüMO Ride-Sharing Service Expands to Stockelsdorf and Bad Schwartau
LUMo Expands to Bad Schwartau
LüMO (Lübeck Mobil), a ride-sharing and demand-responsive transport service, has expanded its operations to neighbouring municipalities, Stockelsdorf and Bad Schwartau. This move aims to enhance mobility in these areas while partaking in a research project to evaluate the feasibility of flexible, app-based ride-sharing solutions in medium-sized towns.
Background and Research Project
Initiated in Lübeck in February 2018, LüMO has been a pioneer in offering demand-responsive transport services. The expansion to Stockelsdorf and Bad Schwartau is part of a research project funded by the federal government, with approximately one million euros provided. The project's goal is to assess the impact of such solutions on user acceptance, routing algorithms, urban congestion, and accessibility.
Fleet Details
The expanded service fleet consists primarily of small, low-emission minibuses, designed for short urban and suburban distances. These vehicles are equipped with GPS tracking, communication systems for central dispatch, and app connectivity. To meet the new demand, the fleet has been expanded by three vehicles, bringing the total to ten minibuses, including three wheelchair-accessible models.
Operation Details
LUMO operates on a flexible schedule, offering services from early morning till late evening. Users can book rides via the dedicated smartphone app or by phone, specifying pickup and drop-off points within the service zone. The ride-sharing system groups passengers traveling in similar directions to optimize vehicle occupancy and reduce wait and travel times.
Pricing is competitive and integrated with local public transport fare systems where possible. LUMO offers a complementary service, filling transit gaps in areas with less frequent bus service or providing first-/last-mile connectivity to main transit hubs.
Service Availability
LUMO operates in the new areas on Fridays and Saturdays between 8 pm and 4 am, and until 1 am on the rest of the days. Residents of Stockelsdorf (excluding villages) and Bad Schwartau can now also use LUMO. The current location of the vehicle can be viewed at any time via the app. After booking, the minibus usually arrives at the specified virtual stop within 20 minutes.
The research project will continue until mid-2026. Last year, LUMO recorded around 80,000 passengers. For the most up-to-date details about LUMO’s current service in Stockelsdorf and Bad Schwartau, such as exact fleet size, schedule, or how to participate, I recommend contacting the local public transport authority or checking official LUMO service announcements.
The LüMO expansion to Stockelsdorf and Bad Schwartau involves not just improving transportation within these areas, but also serves as a platform for evaluating the feasibility of flexible, app-based ride-sharing solutions in medium-sized towns, particularly in the context of public-transit. The research project, initiated by the federal government, aims to analyze factors like user acceptance, routing algorithms, urban congestion, and accessibility within the finance industry, as the project has been allocated approximately one million euros.
