BUGA23 in Mannheim opens with cable car

On April 14th, the Mannheim Federal Garden Show "BUGA23" was opened by German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. During the 178-day event, a cable car will connect the two exhibition areas. On June 15th, regional stakeholders will meet for the VRN Cable Car Day at the BUGA23.

During a ceremony accompanied by the Haifa Symphony Orchestra and the band Get Well Soon, the Federal President expressed his anticipation for the major event. He also emphasized the importance of BUGA 23’s commitment to sustainability.

The modern and environmentally friendly cable car from Doppelmayr also contributes to sustainability, having previously been used at the Floriade EXPO in Almere, Netherlands in 2022. This type of reuse is a special feature of cable car transportation.

According to organizers, the cable car is the connecting element between the two sites and thus also part of the sustainability concept of the 2023 Federal Garden Show in Mannheim. As two sites had to be connected, the cable car, which is powered by green energy, was the most ecologically and neighbor-friendly option.

More than 60 cabins now float above the Federal Garden Show grounds, with 30 BUGA 23 cabins and an additional 34 provided by BUGA 23 partners and sponsors. Each cabin is designed to carry ten people.

The cable car connects the Spinelli and Luisenpark exhibition areas during the BUGA 23, with each ride taking about eight minutes. According to BUGA 23 organizers, up to 2,800 people can be transported per hour and direction on a two-kilometer stretch. Visitors get a new perspective on Mannheim, including crossing the Neckar river.

The Mayor of Mannheim, Peter Kurz (SPD), confesses, “The area we have transformed here is enormous. The combination of an existing park and a redesigned area, connected by the cable car. That is truly something special.”

VRN Cable Car Day on June 15th

The Rhein-Neckar transport association (VRN), which is also responsible for Mannheim, has been dealing with this modern mode of transportation for some time and has commissioned a study on the subject in recent months. As part of the interactive conference “Mobility is in the Air!”, the VRN will present the study and shed light on the topic of urban cable cars in various formats and discussions.

In addition to interesting keynotes, lectures, workshops, and a panel discussion, the event provides space for informal exchange and discussion. Guests are also invited to take a ride on the BUGA cable car.

The target audience for the event is mainly regional and supra-regional representatives from politics, science, business, industry, and providers, city, transportation, and environmental planners, as well as associations and institutions involved in the issue or interested in it. The partners of the cable car day are BUGA23, Cable Car World, and Doppelmayr. Further information and registration can be found here:  VRN | Der VRN-Seilbahntag, 15. Juni 2023