Adaptive assets support flexible, responsive transport services that link to many destinations.
When area-based contracts for public transport operators are updated, they should integrate demand-responsive products such as minibuses that divert from a fixed route to pick up or drop off people close to home.
Mobility as a Service (MaaS) Mobility as a Service subscription packages bundle up different personal travel products in the same way that a telecommunications package bundles mobile phone, internet and digital content services for a fixed monthly cost. Mobility as a Service subscription packages typically come with an app that provides a user-friendly interface between the customer and the mobility product that best meets their needs at the time of travel. A user can subscribe to a Mobility as a Service package as an alternative to owning a car. |
This will make it easier for operators to market services to users through Mobility as a Service subscriptions. These package traditional timetabled public transport with demand-responsive services and other personal mobility products such as for-hire e-bikes and car share (for example, Car Next Door or GoGet).35
Building the adaptive mobility solutions of the future will involve system-wide changes:
• Operators will provide flexible and scheduled services that change over the life of their contract in response to demand.
• The proponents, developers and operators of mass transit networks will integrate long-distance services with first- and last-mile connections to deliver end-to-end Journeys.
• Mobility as a Service operators will follow consistent national standards for functions such as data sharing, customer payments and the integration of timetables.
• The detailed design specifications for many urban transport assets will anticipate technological and social changes.
• Innovative traffic control and kerbside parking management systems will support demand- responsive and rideshare services and shared micromobility devices where required.
• Commuter car parking spaces will be configured to allow for the changing use of high-value land near transit stops.
• To minimise the impacts of freight transport in a dense urban setting, small new depots on the edge of central business districts will act as a transfer point between traditional vans and last-mile microfreight deliveries.
• Better coordination of garbage and recycling pick-ups will also reduce the number of trucks on city streets. For more on this topic, see the Waste chapter.
Where governments need to roll out high-capacity mass transit services quickly to support rapid urban development, new-generation electric guided busways ('trackless trams') can offer advantages. They use a digital guidance system to travel at high speed on dedicated road lanes.
As they do not need rails or overhead wiring, guided busways can be built more quickly than light rail in some situations.