Development and Status for Large-Scale Demand Responsive Transport

Abstract

Purpose

To offer knowledge about the global development of large-scale demand responsive transport systems (DRT), and to stimulate dialogue and collaboration for further innovation and improvement of these systems.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the literature shows how DRT has evolved from the first applications in the 1970s to very complex operations in the last two decades with hundreds of vehicles and thousands of passengers every day. Data collection from available sources on the Internet and personal communications during international projects, conferences, and networking are used to quantify the development and status for large-scale DRT.

Findings

In the last decade, DRT is moving slowly ahead with real progress in some countries. The “Danish Model” is a good example of how to organize DRT for the best possible coordination of different mobility services, both “open” to the general market and for the special needs market. Such integration is also observed in a few places in the United States, and some European countries. For a real progress there is a great need and potential for international collaboration, as has been the case for most other sectors.

Originality/value

This is the first known attempt to collect information and compile a list of the 30 largest DRT systems in the world. This is used to analyze trends and provide insight into new directions for large-scale DRT systems. Suggestions for collaboration in various aspects of DRT should be valuable to organizations and policy makers with interest and power to further DRT innovations and operations.

Citation

Westerlund, Y. (2016), "Development and Status for Large-Scale Demand Responsive Transport", Paratransit: Shaping the Flexible Transport Future (Transport and Sustainability, Vol. 8), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 53-74. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2044-994120160000008004