Testimonials
I hire an estate car so that I can tie down my poles, which are more than four metres long.
07.08.2024
Lea Bachmann is one of the best pole vaulters in Switzerland and the 28-year-old doctoral student heads up the Mobility section in Basel together with her father. In this interview, she explains which car she uses to transport her staff – and how she is helping to shape the future of Mobility.
Lea, you grew up with Mobility. How did this come about?
My parents never had their own car. Instead, they used car sharing. So I grew up with the concept from an early age. A Mobility car was hired for skiing holidays or visits to my grandmother – that was normal for me.
In the meantime, you’re continuing the family tradition, right?
Yes, exactly. I even learned to drive with Mobility. In Basel-Stadt, where I grew up and still live, everything is easily and quickly accessible by bicycle or public transport. Because I only need a car occasionally, Mobility is the best option for me. Car sharing is not only much cheaper, it also makes environmental sense.
You are one of the best pole vaulters in the country. I assume you don’t transport your poles by bicycle or public transport?
Of course not! I often rent a Mobility car for competitions in the Basel region. That’s how I do it when I fly to a competition from Basel: My father drove me to the airport in a Mobility car for my trip to the European Championships in Rome. I rent an estate car so that I can securely tie my four-metre-long rods to a roof rack.
After the European Championships in Rome, the next trip would have been Olympia in Paris, but it shouldn’t be…
Qualifying for Paris was my big goal, but unfortunately it was just not enough. After a very difficult preparation, a good result for the so-called World Ranking was missing in the end. I had a cold for the last two weeks of the qualification period and was no longer able to achieve the required result.
How did you get to the pole vault?
My path was rather unconventional. I never wanted to go to athletics because running was too strenuous for me. At some point, my father convinced me to try pole vaulting. I was in the children’s circus at the time and particularly loved the aerial acrobatics. I liked pole vault right away. It is a fascinating combination of athletics and gymnastic elements.
Can you delve into the appeal of this sport in more detail?
It is a very demanding discipline in which many factors have to work together. You need speed, strength and technical expertise. It is a long learning process in which the athletes gradually approach the heights. I find it particularly fascinating that it is a kind of “democratic discipline”. Weaknesses in one area can be offset by strengths in another.
Mobility also works democratically. You’re not just a car sharing user, but, together with your father, you’re also Co-President of Mobility’s Basel section. What motivated you to take on this commitment?
When Mobility changed its pricing policy a few years ago, my father went to the section assembly and asked critical questions. Later, I went to a meeting with him and we were elected as delegates. We thought it was great that you can get involved as a member. One year later, we took over the chairmanship of the section. I find Mobility exciting as a company – not least because of its cooperative structure.
You are currently completing your doctorate at the Faculty of Law at the University of Basel. As a lawyer, what do you think about the legal form of a cooperative?
Thanks to the cooperative structure, you can participate as a cooperative member and also gain exciting insights into the company. I find the exchange with other cooperative members inspiring. The focus is not on profit, but on helping each other to create added value for everyone. I think it’s great when modern companies rely on this traditional model.
What challenges do you think Mobility will have to face in the future?
The electrification of the fleet is a major challenge, as is the increasing competition in the car sharing sector. A key topic will be connected mobility – in other words, the integration of different modes of transport into a single offer. This is where Mobility has to stay on the ball. I think it’s a shame how few young people – and especially young women – are involved with Mobility. I would like Mobility to become even more active in addressing and involving these groups. In our Basel section, we are making good progress in this regard, but even more effort is needed here.
Pictures: Sabrina Stäubli – perspective