A new Uber-style disruption could make urban transport more flexible and responsive for travellers.
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney has announced a new proposal for on-demand bus services that replicates an Uber-style network for passengers.
The UNSW Sydney says the idea includes users downloading an app and requesting a ride from a roaming fleet of buses in a designated service zone where riders can determine the stops, routes and timetable.
In this case, the vehicle – usually a minibus or van – takes riders from their doorstep (or a convenient nearby location) to their destination along with others heading in a similar direction. Other times, it might link up commuters to major transit hubs to continue their journey to a CBD, usually for the price of a standard bus fare.
Transport expert from UNSW School of Civil & Environmental Engineering Professor Vinayak Dixit says commuters have a growing desire for more flexible and responsive travel.
The UNSW Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation (rCITI) Director says on-demand transit could help public transport respond more to users’ needs and expectations.
“With digitisation, we now know exactly when people want to travel at the exact moment and location, which was never previously possible,” Dixit says.
“Today, people want to travel when they want to, so they expect a service that meets that need. On-demand mobility is part of the solution that could help strengthen connectivity and access in our public transport system.”
Dixit says on-demand public transport could help overcome one of the limitations of regular fixed-route services – that passengers must fit into the system rather than the other way around. Also, on-demand services can better accommodate users by optimising routes on the go.
“Public transport typically operates on a fixed schedule that attempts to cater to when and where people want to travel,” Dixit says.
“But it’s only an aggregate understanding that determines the frequency of those services and routes.”
As many peak-hour commuters would know, the public transport network can struggle with interconnection in areas underserviced by existing infrastructure.
In situations where the distance to a designated bus stop or train station isn’t within walking distance, on-demand services can fill those gaps.
Dixit says on-demand services would also help reduce traffic congestion and pollution by encouraging people who would otherwise drive part of their commute to leave the car at home and take public transport for the whole journey.
“Many public transport service providers worldwide, including here in Australia, are already using on-demand services, and they have been shown to be effective in some locations. So it’s something we should be investigating more,” Dixit says.
According to Dixit, on-demand services may also be better than adding a new fixed bus route or running more frequent scheduled services in some places. Fixed stops are convenient for only a few people, and a timetabled bus service wouldn’t necessarily be viable for passengers making short trips.
“On-demand transit would help achieve the idea of 30-minute cities and 20-minute neighbourhoods by making movement within these areas cost-effective – one aspect of these concepts which is often overlooked in practice,” Dixit says.