With the first reporting period of the PER-MOVE project completed, partners have reached an important milestone: the preparation of the Comprehensive Report on Socio-Economic Data and Existing Mobility Situation in the Project Areas (D.1.1.1). The report provides an overview of mobility in the three pilot areas – Škofja Loka in Slovenia, Szarvas in Hungary and Požega in Croatia – and brings together socio-economic, demographic and transport data that will serve as a baseline for developing tailored mobility solutions.
The comparison shows that the three areas face similar challenges, but have different starting points. Private cars remain an important part of everyday mobility in all three areas, while demographic ageing and the need for better connections between urban centres and surrounding areas increase the importance of accessible and flexible transport options.
Škofja Loka has the largest number of settlements and the most challenging topography of the three pilot areas. It already has a diversified mobility system with bus and rail services, cycling infrastructure, Park & Ride and the eKOLOka bike-sharing system. At the same time, it records the highest car ownership rate, with 557 cars per 1,000 inhabitants. Better connections between dispersed settlements and the urban centre, particularly for people who cannot rely on a private car, therefore remain an important challenge.
Szarvas has the lowest population density and the highest share of residents aged 65 and over among the three areas. At the same time, it has by far the longest cycling infrastructure – 28.3 km – and a strong cycling culture. These conditions provide a good basis for further developing flexible and shared micromobility solutions.
Požega is the most densely populated of the three areas and functions as an important administrative and service centre. It has an extensive local and regional bus network and a railway connection, but only 1.3 km of cycling infrastructure and no shared mobility or demand-responsive transport. The analysis therefore highlights the potential for optimising the existing public transport network and adapting it more closely to users’ needs.
The findings confirm that there is no single solution suitable for all three pilot areas. They will now feed into local mobility plans and the preparation of tailored pilot actions. By testing approaches in Slovenia, Hungary and Croatia, PER-MOVE aims to develop practical solutions that can also be transferred to other peripheral areas across Central Europe.