Demand responsive transport

Differences from other modes of transport

Mode of operation

A DRT service will be restricted to a defined operating zone, within which journeys must start and finish. Journeys may be completely free form, or accommodated onto skeleton routes and schedules, varied as required. As such, users will be given a specified pick-up point and a time window for collection. Some DRT systems may have defined termini, at one or both ends of a route, such as an urban centre, airport or transport interchange, for onward connections.

DRT systems require passengers to request a journey by booking with a central dispatcher who determines the journey options available given the users' location and destination.

DRT systems take advantage of fleet telematics technology in the form of vehicle location systems, scheduling and dispatching software and hand-held/in vehicle computing.

Vehicles used for DRT services will usually be small minibuses, reflecting the low ridership, but also allowing the service to provide as near a door to door service as practical, by being able to use residential streets. In some cases Taxicabs are hired by the DRT provider to serve their routes on request.

Simulations of health and environmental effects

For a model of a hypothetical large-scale demand-responsive public transport system for the Helsinki metropolitan area, simulation results published in 2005 demonstrated that “in an urban area with one million inhabitants, trip aggregation could reduce the health, environmental, and other detrimental impacts of car traffic typically by 50–70%, and if implemented could attract about half of the car passengers, and within a broad operational range would require no public subsidies”.

Licensing

DRT schemes may require new or amended legislation, or special dispensation, to operate, as they do not meet the traditional licensing model of authorised bus transport providers or licensed taxicab operators. The status has caused controversy between bus and taxi operators when the DRT service picks up passengers without pre-booking, due to the licensing issues. Issues may also arise surrounding tax and fuel subsidy for DRT services.

DRT by country

Sorted by relevance.

United States

The large majority of 1,500 rural systems in the US provide demand-response service; there are also about 400 urban DRT systems.

California

Colorado

Illinois

South Carolina

Washington State

Washington DC

Germany and Austria

In German-speaking countries many isolated systems exist under the following names: Anruflinienfahrt (ALF), Anruf-Linien-Dienst (ALD), Anruflinienbus, Anruflinientaxi (ALT, alita), Anrufbus, Rufbus, Ruf-mich-Bus, Linienbedarfstaxi (LBT), Taxibus, Linientaxi, Bedarfsbus, Anruftaxi, RuftaxiAnruf-Buslinien und -Sammeltaxis.

Germany

Austria

Switzerland

In sparse populated areas (under 100 p/km2) from 1995, PostBus Switzerland Ltd (national post company) has operated a DRT service called PubliCar, formerly also Casa Car. For more see [8] or project's web page.

Publicar operates in: Payerne (VD), La Courtine de Bellelay (BE), Delémont (JU), Thierrens (VD), Oron (VD), La Brévine (NE), Yverdon (VD), Echallens (VD), Orbe (VD), Naters-Blatten(-Belalp) (Night) (VS), Birgisch-Mund (Night) (VS), Bitsch (Night) (VS), Brigerberg (Night) (VS), Simplon-South (VS), Zwischbergen (summer) (VS), Surselva (GR), Appenzell (AI), Oberegg-Reute (AI/AR), Valposchiavo (GR)

United Kingdom

Under the existing UK bus operating regulations of 1986, some DRT schemes were operating, allowed by the fact they had a core start and finish point, and a published schedule. For England and Wales in 2004, the regulations concerning bus service registration and application of bus operating grants were amended, to allow registration of fully flexible pre-booked DRT services. Some services such as LinkUp only pick up passengers at 'meeting points', but can set down at the passenger's destination.

Australia

Canada

Italy

Following some pioneering DRT schemes implemented in the eighties, in Italy a new generation of applications have been launched and are in operation starting from mid nineties. Current schemes are provided in urban and peri-urban areas as well as in rural communities. Operated by different kind of organisations (Public Transport companies, private service providers) such schemes are offered either as intermediate collective transport services for generic users or as schemes for specific user groups. DRT schemes are operated in major cities like Rome, Milan, Genoa, Florence, as well as in several mid- to small-size towns such as Alessandria, Aosta, Cremona, Livorno, Mantova, Parma, Empoli, Siena, Sarzana.

Poland

The first ever demand responsive transport scheme in Poland - called Tele-Bus - is operated since 2007 in Krakow by MPK, the local public transport company (see also Tramways in Krakow). Some information about the scheme can be found on the relevant pages of MPK web site as well as in a short video.

Luxembourg

See Flexibus' web page (in DE and FR).

Czech Republic

There are two noticeable DRT organizers:

1. Radiobus since 2004 especially for city transit system - uses fixed timetables, but bus goes only when called by passenger
2. DHD company since 2003 especially for collecting workers from spread rural area. DHD provides booking and organization, however, the transport is implemented by several local transport companies. DHD is trying to extent this system as an alternative to the less effective and expensive (however easier to use) rural public transport with fixed timetables.

There are several smaller DRT lines, some of them are listed on this page in Czech cs:poptávková doprava.

Japan

More than 200 of the 1700 local governments in Japan have introduced the DRT. For more information see the following On Demand Bus(Japan).

Iceland

Public transport authority in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik and the surrounding municipalities. Manages public bus transport and disabled transport, but does not have its own vehicles. About 1300 enquiries and thousand trips a day. Uses 60 vehicles and 10-20 more for school transport for children with special needs. For more see http://eu-en.trapezegroup.com/case-study/straeto-iceland]

China

Xiamen and Changzhu is planning the DRT project by Transit scholar James W, For more information see the following 需求响应交通服务.

Sweden

Regional transport authority in Västra Götaland in southwestern Sweden is responsible for all public transport and for transport offers to citizens with special needs. DRT used for people with special needs (paratransit). More here [9]