Klagenfurt shows the way

Big rush for the self-driving buses

Benedikt enjoys riding in the autonomous bus.(Bild: Christian Tragner)

The fully autonomous buses that have been available in Klagenfurt since July 12 have been very well received by the population. Without a steering wheel and without a driver, three buses drive through the city at a maximum speed of 20 km/h. "They take care of everything, it's wonderful," enthuses one user.

Since July 12, it has been possible to explore the city of Klagenfurt in fully autonomous buses - without a chauffeur. Guided by GPS systems and countless camera eyes and sensors, the bus drives along at a maximum speed of 20 km/h. Three of these intelligent transporters are in use, and the ticket is even free.

This is what the autonomous buses look like.(Bild: Christian Tragner)

Chiara (l) even rode the new bus three times in a row.(Bild: Christian Tragner)

How has the project been received by the public? "Really very well so far. Whole groups from Vorarlberg have even traveled to Klagenfurt to get to know this new type of mobility. It has also made Klagenfurt a magnet for Carinthians - everyone wants to try out the new public transport option," says SURAA project manager Walter Prutej.

Three different routes are offered around Lakeside Park, with each journey taking 20, 30 or 40 minutes. "I've now ridden three times in a row to get to know everything," says Chiara. "Everything is going perfectly, it's a big step forward. The stress factor is gone, the buses' drive system is intelligent - they take care of everything, you ride along like in a normal bus."

However, an accompanying person still travels with the bus so that they can maneuver the bus with a joystick in the event of an unplanned incident. Prutej: "But that's never happened before."

Benedikt is also enthusiastic: "It's something new. The buses drive safely and brake immediately. I always enjoy taking a ride. With the autonomous shuttles, Klagenfurt is a model region throughout Europe."