Expanded Car Sharing Services in Hamburg: Municipal Growth in Vehicle Sharing Programs

In the heart of Hamburg, districts such as Hamburg-Mitte, Harburg, and Wandsbek each boast between 15 and 24 HVV-Switch locations, a testament to the city's commitment to sustainable mobility.

Since 2013, Hamburger Hochbahn has been collaborating with HVV, the city, and Hamburg's districts to expand car-sharing parking spaces at U- and S-Bahn stations and in residential areas. This collaborative effort has resulted in over 1,000 parking spaces for car-sharing at 22 rapid transit stations and 178 locations across the city.

The HVV Switch app serves as the digital core, allowing users to book car-sharing services and find available parking spaces. Currently, the app bundles the offers of car-sharing providers Sixt Share, Share Now, and Miles, providing residents and visitors with a diverse range of options.

Transport Senator Anjes Tjarks states that HVV Switch is growing the variety of urban mobility options in Hamburg. Tjarks emphasizes that public transport is becoming "bundled and more diverse" with the help of the HVV Switch app. In the long term, the classic public transport system is to be successively expanded with smart and demand-responsive services, making private cars almost obsolete.

Hamburg-Nord has the most HVV-Switch locations with 69, followed by Eimsbüttel with 39 and Altona with 33. This year, 50 new HVV-Switch points have been realized, with another 15 locations to be opened in the second half of 2024. Bergedorf has been expanded with eight new HVV-Switch points, further increasing the accessibility of car-sharing in Hamburg's outskirts.

The HVV Switch app is not just limited to car-sharing. It also enables the booking of Moia trips and the use of e-scooters, offering a comprehensive solution for urban mobility. The Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (HVV) and Hamburger Hochbahn are expanding sustainable mobility in Hamburg, with the goal of making all relevant mobility services of the city accessible through the HVV Switch app.

The expansion of car-sharing parking spaces and the development of the HVV Switch app are ongoing processes in Hamburg. The app is a part of the strategy to relieve streets, minimize parking searches, and make mobility more flexible in Hamburg. A new HVV-Switch point with parking spaces for car-sharing vehicles was opened in Bergedorf on July 29, 2024, marking another step forward in Hamburg's sustainable mobility journey.