diff --git a/backend/routes/search.js b/backend/routes/search.js
index ecd55a0..50e596b 100644
--- a/backend/routes/search.js
+++ b/backend/routes/search.js
@@ -47,15 +47,15 @@ function searchHandler(dbConn) {
     if (q.food_costs) scoreQueryObj['food_costs'] = q.food_costs
     if (q.alcohol_costs) scoreQueryObj['alcohol_costs'] = q.alcohol_costs
     if (q.water_costs) scoreQueryObj['water_costs'] = q.water_costs
-    if (q.public_transportation_costs) scoreQueryObj['public_transportation_costs'] = q.public_transportation_costs
+    if (q.local_transportation_costs) scoreQueryObj['local_transportation_costs'] = q.local_transportation_costs
     if (q.entertainment_costs) scoreQueryObj['entertainment_costs'] = q.entertainment_costs
     if (q.average_per_day_costs) scoreQueryObj['average_per_day_costs'] = q.average_per_day_costs
 
     //console.log(scoreQueryObj)
 
-    if (_.isEmpty(scoreQueryObj)) {
-      res.status(400).send('provide at least one search parameter.');
-    }
+    // if (_.isEmpty(scoreQueryObj)) {
+    //   res.status(400).send('provide at least one search parameter.');
+    // }
     scoreAndSearch(q.from, q.to, scoreQueryObj).then(searchResults => {
 
       //response.data = searchResults
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ function searchHandler(dbConn) {
     }).catch(e => {
       // TODO error handling
       console.log(e)
-      res.json(e.message)
+      res.status(400).send(e.message)
     })
   }
 }
diff --git a/backend/util/oldToNewQuerySyntax.js b/backend/util/oldToNewQuerySyntax.js
index fef514f..17d2168 100644
--- a/backend/util/oldToNewQuerySyntax.js
+++ b/backend/util/oldToNewQuerySyntax.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ exports.oldToNewQuerySyntax = function (queries) {
         if (queries.food_costs) res.food_costs = [Number(queries.food_costs.split(',')[0]), Number(queries.food_costs.split(',')[1])]
         if (queries.alcohol_costs) res.alcohol_costs = [Number(queries.alcohol_costs.split(',')[0]), Number(queries.alcohol_costs.split(',')[1])]
         if (queries.water_costs) res.water_costs = [Number(queries.water_costs.split(',')[0]), Number(queries.water_costs.split(',')[1])]
-        if (queries.public_transportation_costs) res.public_transportation_costs = [Number(queries.public_transportation_costs.split(',')[0]), Number(queries.public_transportation_costs.split(',')[1])]
+        if (queries.local_transportation_costs) res.local_transportation_costs = [Number(queries.local_transportation_costs.split(',')[0]), Number(queries.local_transportation_costs.split(',')[1])]
         if (queries.entertainment_costs) res.entertainment_costs = [Number(queries.entertainment_costs.split(',')[0]), Number(queries.entertainment_costs.split(',')[1])]
         if (queries.average_per_day_costs) res.average_per_day_costs = [Number(queries.average_per_day_costs.split(',')[0]), Number(queries.average_per_day_costs.split(',')[1])]
         console.log('queries successfully transformed');
diff --git a/backend/util/scoreAndSearch.js b/backend/util/scoreAndSearch.js
index d9aabbf..2ee8d89 100644
--- a/backend/util/scoreAndSearch.js
+++ b/backend/util/scoreAndSearch.js
@@ -12,11 +12,12 @@ const MULTIPLIER = {
     precipitation: 3.5,
     rain_days: 3,
     sun_hours: 2.5,
+    
     accommodation_costs: 5,
     food_costs: 5,
     alcohol_costs: 5,
     water_costs: 5,
-    public_transportation_costs: 5,
+    local_transportation_costs: 5,
     entertainment_costs: 5,
     average_per_day_costs: 5
 }
@@ -24,9 +25,15 @@ const MULTIPLIER = {
 module.exports = function (dbConn) {
     return async function (from, to, queries) {
         console.log('search')
+        console.log((_.isEmpty(to) || _.isEmpty(from)) && !_.isEmpty(queries))
+        if ((_.isEmpty(to) || _.isEmpty(from)) && !_.isEmpty(queries)) {
+            throw new Error('Invalid Parameters...')
+        }
         // PREPARE SEARCH
         // validate dates
         const dates = validateDates(from, to)
+        // for calculating average if traveldates are in more than one month
+        const travelPeriods = travelPeriodsFromDates(dates)
 
         // transform syntax and seperate climate queries from price queries
         queries = oldToNewQuerySyntax.oldToNewQuerySyntax(queries)
@@ -34,8 +41,6 @@ module.exports = function (dbConn) {
         const q = prepareQueries(queries)
         console.log('q', q)
 
-        // for calculating average if traveldates are in more than one month
-        const travelPeriods = travelPeriodsFromDates(dates)
 
         // FETCH DATA FROM DB
         const boundaryClimate = await getClimateMinMax.getClimateMinMax(dbConn)
@@ -47,7 +52,7 @@ module.exports = function (dbConn) {
                 food_costs: 100,
                 alcohol_costs: 100,
                 water_costs: 100,
-                public_transportation_costs: 100,
+                local_transportation_costs: 100,
                 entertainment_costs: 100,
                 average_per_day_costs: 1000
 
@@ -57,7 +62,7 @@ module.exports = function (dbConn) {
                 food_costs: 0,
                 alcohol_costs: 0,
                 water_costs: 0,
-                public_transportation_costs: 0,
+                local_transportation_costs: 0,
                 entertainment_costs: 0,
                 average_per_day_costs: 0
             }
@@ -89,7 +94,7 @@ module.exports = function (dbConn) {
             // CALCULATE AVERAGE SCORE
             reg.score = calculateAverage(reg.scores)
         })
-        return _.orderBy(regions, ({score}) => score || 0, 'desc') //.filter(el => !_.isNaN(el.score))
+        return _.orderBy(regions, ({ score }) => score || 0, 'desc') //.filter(el => !_.isNaN(el.score))
     }
 
     function calculateAverage(scores) {
@@ -120,7 +125,7 @@ module.exports = function (dbConn) {
         if (queries.food_costs) q.costs.food_costs = queries.food_costs
         if (queries.alcohol_costs) q.costs.alcohol_costs = queries.alcohol_costs
         if (queries.water_costs) q.costs.water_costs = queries.water_costs
-        if (queries.public_transportation_costs) q.costs.public_transportation_costs = queries.public_transportation_costs
+        if (queries.local_transportation_costs) q.costs.local_transportation_costs = queries.local_transportation_costs
         if (queries.entertainment_costs) q.costs.entertainment_costs = queries.entertainment_costs
         if (queries.average_per_day_costs) q.costs.average_per_day_costs = queries.average_per_day_costs