When visiting rural Swiss cities, the inconvenience of public transportation can be a real headache. Particularly for accessing tourist spots in countryside towns, limited bus schedules and restricted transportation options from the nearest stations often cause difficulties during the planning stage.
Amid this situation, a new type of ride-sharing service called “Mybuxi” is gaining attention in some Swiss regions. I had the opportunity to use this service when visiting a famous cheese factory in the Emmental region, and through this experience, I felt the potential of Switzerland’s unique community-based transportation service. Today, I’ll share my experience report.
What is Mybuxi?
Mybuxi is a new type of ride-sharing service operating in rural parts of Switzerland. As of 2024, it operates in a wide range of areas including Herzogenbuchsee, Emmental, Gotthard region, and Bern-Gantrisch, with over 158,000 users already registered.
As the name suggests, it’s an affordable and flexible system that combines bus and taxi services. Unlike traditional taxi services, it has established over 1,500 “virtual stops” to enable more flexible boarding and alighting. Fares are more reasonable than typical taxis, and reservations are made through a smartphone app.
Virtual stops are spread quite densely throughout the area
What’s particularly noteworthy is that this service is closely connected to the local community. Drivers are local residents, serving not just as transportation but also strengthening community bonds.
Mybuxi Experience in Emmental Region
When planning a visit to the famous cheese factory “Emmentaler Schaukäserei” in the Emmental region, I was puzzled about transportation options.
While planning the cheese factory visit, I discovered that public transportation beyond Burgdorf station was very limited. To avoid panic upon arrival, I decided to download the Mybuxi app and complete registration several days in advance. If I had waited until the day of travel to register, the identity verification and payment setup process might have taken considerable time, making smooth usage difficult.
How the Booking System Works
When I entered my departure point (Burgdorf station) and destination (Emmentaler Schaukäserei) in the app, it displayed approximate pickup and arrival times. After checking these estimated times and confirming they fit my schedule, I finalized the booking. In my case, the proposed times perfectly matched my sightseeing plan, so I immediately confirmed the reservation.
When booking, the actual scheduled pickup time is displayed in response to your requested time
Important Payment Method Considerations
An important point to note is that unlike Uber and similar services, payment is made by cash directly to the driver. Knowing this in advance, I prepared small Swiss franc denominations. For tourists unfamiliar with Swiss currency, this point requires special attention. For visitors from abroad, I recommend securing small bills and coins when exchanging money.
Meeting the Driver
Virtual stops have highly visible signage installed
When I arrived at Burgdorf station at the reserved time, the booked vehicle was already waiting at the stop marked “Mybuxi.” After giving my name to the Swiss female driver, she politely explained that arrival might be slightly delayed and offered cancellation if needed.
Mybuxi vehicle arrived at the scheduled time
With services like Uber, cancellations typically result in systematic cancellation fees, so this flexible approach was appreciated. While cash payment by hand can be inconvenient, it seemed to have advantages in cases like this.
Key Points for Tourist Usage
When using Mybuxi for tourism, three points are particularly important:
First, download the app and complete registration several days in advance. When your stay in Switzerland is limited, you want to avoid spending time on registration procedures.
Second, prepare cash (Swiss francs) for payment in advance. Particularly securing small bills and coins provides peace of mind.
Third, plan with flexibility regarding the times provided during booking. Especially for tourist destination travel, consider possible variations in arrival times.
Summary – A New Form of Public Transportation
Mybuxi represents a new form of transportation in Swiss rural cities, combining taxi-like convenience with public transportation-like affordable pricing. Particularly for tourism in areas with limited public transportation, it becomes a valuable transportation option.
With proper advance preparation, you can make travel in Swiss rural cities much smoother. From my experience, it was precisely because of adequate preparation that I could comfortably achieve round-trip travel to the cheese factory.
When visiting Swiss countryside towns, I highly recommend considering Mybuxi as one of your transportation options.
