Mobility stations of tomorrow

Project objective

The aim of the project work is to describe typical users of mobility stations in Germany using a user-centered design approach called personas.

The personas provide a better understanding of the different needs of travelers for the planning and further development of mobility stations. This supports the user-oriented development of selected stops into transfer hubs for the mobility of the future and improves the travel experience for all target groups, such as commuters, long-distance travelers and older people.

The four personas presented here are a selection that can be supplemented by other target groups with special needs.

Procedure

The persona development process combines quantitative mobility data from the MID study 2018-2023 with qualitative content from interviews and expert assessments collected as part of the project.

In the first step, the relevant behaviors at mobility stations were identified from the mobility data, including typical motivations for mobility, frequency of use, preferred means of transport and transfer patterns.

Then, optional variables such as expectations and daily routines were examined in eight interviews with people of different ages and with different mobility preferences. The behavioral variables were refined with the collected findings.

Finally, feedback from three people with industry expertise was used to validate and refine the personas.

Results

The following personas were created in the project:

Sophie – Frequent Traveler

Sophie is an engineering student from Erfurt who is colorblind.

For her daily commute to university and her leisure activities, she flexibly uses buses, trams, and regional trains, accessing them via various mobility stations.

As she often travels spontaneously, she values ​​clear, real-time travel information and uses a mobile app with a customized color scheme to easily manage her journeys.

Jonas – Commuter

Jonas is a working professional from Augsburg who values punctuality.

He uses the same mobility stations almost every day, mainly for bus journeys to the office.

He prefers stations that are clean and equipped with catering facilities.

For his journeys to the airport, he also expects seating and charging points to make the wait more comfortable.

Carlo - Business Traveler

Carlo is a busy media professional from Munich.

On his business trips, he visits mobility stations several times a week. To store his luggage and pass the time while waiting, he likes to use lockers, cafes, and supermarkets at the stations.

Carlo is very well-organized and uses various digital tools to plan and update his information. He places a high value on comfort during his travels.

Nina – Everyday user

Nina is a retiree from Berlin who has difficulty walking.

She uses mobility stations for leisure activities, shopping, and meeting friends. She usually takes the tram or subway and also likes to be picked up directly from the mobility station.

She prefers stations that have elevators, seating areas, and shelters. She’s also interested in information about nearby pharmacies and accessible restrooms. However, she often finds mobile apps a bit difficult to use.

Andrei – individualist

Andrei works as an IT consultant in Stuttgart and values independence and flexibility.

For work, errands, and leisure, he uses only his car or his bike. He avoids public transportation and uses mobility stations only when he needs to drop off or pick up his children for school field trips.

Andrei’s interactions with mobility stations are therefore rare and very purpose-driven. In those situations, he values convenient parking options and quick, safe access to train platforms.

Project data

Project management: Tarun Devidas Ramani

Mentoring Prof. Dr. Matthias Hirth, Dr.-Ing. Cindy Mayas

TU Ilmenau, Human-centered Systems Group, Research Project 2025