The Ilse on-call bus will start on Usedom in 2026: mobility for everyone!

The Ilse on-call bus will start on Usedom in 2026: mobility for everyone!

Mobility on the island of Usedom will take an exciting turn from 2026. From January 1, 2026, residents of the Rankwitz community will have access to local public transport for the first time in a long time. The Ilse-Bus, an on-call bus from the Vorpommern-Greifswald transport company (VVG), will significantly expand the mobility offering and will be available directly in Rankwitz in the Lieper Winkel from January 5, 2026. This initiative is particularly important because the community previously had no public transport and buses were used primarily for school transport. As the Ostsee-Zeitung reports, community representative Jutta Franz shows a strong awareness of the importance of public transport for residents and highlights how important reliable local transport is for the older population.

The new on-call bus will operate between Monday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. One-off bookings are possible by telephone from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. or conveniently via the VVG Ilse Bus app. The prices are based on the Ilse tariff, which is based on the cheaper public transport tariffs. For many older citizens, like Gudrun Oberländer from Rankwitz, the bus is a necessity because they are dependent on public transport. The on-call bus trips run without a fixed timetable and thus offer users flexibility, which is often urgently needed in the rural areas of Usedom.

Overview of the ILSE bus

The Ilse bus is an innovative means of transport that runs without fixed timetables or lines. This means that passengers can flexibly travel back and forth between all stops in the Ilse area. Interestingly, this bus also acts as a feeder to the existing public transport, meaning it travels from the surrounding area directly to the city's central stops and back. To use the on-call bus, trips must be booked 30 minutes in advance, which also allows online booking around the clock. This can all be adjusted at ilse-bus.de.

In addition, VVG is currently showing interest in expanding bus connections and has already announced a test operation in the northern part of the island of Usedom for the summer of 2025. VVG managing director Dirk Zabel is optimistic about the new initiative, which will be launched in less frequented areas of the island.

The challenge of rural mobility

The introduction of the Ilse bus is particularly important considering that mobility in rural areas faces major challenges. According to the Federal Agency for Civic Education, 60% of all routes in rural areas rely on private motorized transport. This focus on cars not only has ecological but also social consequences - especially for younger and older people who rely on public transport. Improved transport services could reduce CO2 emissions while counteracting migration from rural areas.

The planned information event by the municipal council before the upcoming start of the on-call bus could help citizens to familiarize themselves with the new offer and recognize its advantages. Overall, the introduction of the Ilse bus could strengthen the rural area on Usedom and increase the quality of life of the residents.