Transport can play a key role in mitigating climate change, through reducing traffic, emissions and dependency on private vehicles. Transport is also crucial to connect remote areas to central or urban areas. Yet, sustainable and flexible transport is among the greatest challenges for rural areas and rural–urban regions. Innovative transport concepts and approaches are urgently needed to foster sustainable and integrated regional development. This article addresses challenges of sustainability, accessibility, and connectivity through examining complementary systems to existing public transport, including demand-responsive transport and multimodal mobility. The report draws upon case studies from the Metropolitan Area of Styria, Ljubljana Urban Region and rural Wales.

Keywords: public transport; mobility; rural–urban; sustainable transport; multimodal mobility; micro-public transport; complementary mobility