Studies, publications, new references, partnerships, extensions: the year 2021 was punctuated by many significant events for our company. A look back at a rich year.
JANUARY
1- PADAM MOBILITY TAKES UP THE CHALLENGE OF TRANSPORTING THE MOST VULNERABLE TO VACCINATION CENTRES
In January 2021, the vaccination campaign began in France and focused on the most vulnerable populations. The Paris region, in collaboration with the Paris area departments, decided to deploy all its resources to facilitate travel to and from vaccination centres for the most vulnerable. Among the transport resources mobilised: the Paratransit PAM networks and the dynamic Demand-Responsive service, TAD IDFM, equipped with Padam Mobility technology.
2- PADAM MOBILITY STRENGTHENS ITS PRESENCE IN FRANCE
The Mont Blanc urban area, which until now has only had regional fixed-line buses, set up a new Demand-Responsive Transport to compensate for the lack of existing mobility solutions in its area. Following a free floating configuration, The Montenbus service complements the pre-existing fixed lines.
In the Aisne, the various RTA DRT services, known under the Mobilitad brand, were optimised and modernised by Padam Mobility, which provided users with new booking channels (application and booking website). These new services will accelerate the RTA’s digital transition and revitalise the image of the Demand-Responsive Transport offer.
MARCH
3- STRASBOURG EXTENDS ITS FLEX’HOP DRT NETWORK TO ITS ENTIRE URBAN AREA
After an initial experimental phase in a limited area of 13 municipalities, the Compagnie des Transports Strasbourgeois (CTS), Strasbourg’s transport operator, decided to offer the inhabitants of the Eurometropole a Demand-Responsive Transport service that is unprecedented in France in terms of its territorial scope (over 200 km2) and its time span (from 5 a.m. to midnight).
4- PADAM MOBILITY MODERNISES A 20 YEAR OLD DRT NETWORK IN LINCOLNSHIRE, UK
The Call Connect DRT service offers a reliable and convenient mobility solution to the population of the rural county of Lincolnshire. The county has already been offering a DRT service as an alternative to very long bus lines with long detours through different villages for some 20 years.
In order to make the service more efficient for both users and the community, Lincolnshire County Council decided to call on Padam Mobility. By integrating its software solutions, fleet management is streamlined and users can book the service through three different channels (user application, booking website and by telephone via a call centre).
MAY
5- A WHITE PAPER TO QUESTION THE ROLE OF MAAS IN SPARSELY POPULATED AREAS
Different from the city centre approach, mobility in peri-urban and semi-rural areas is a community affair, which digital tools must learn to take into account. It is in this sense that Padam Mobility wanted to publish a White Paper on MaaS or Mobility-as-a-Service; the idea being to propose a different approach to this recent concept and to raise awareness of the issues it could address in the most fragile territories.
6- PADAM MOBILITY BECOMES A MEMBER OF THE SIEMENS MOBILITY FAMILY
Padam Mobility became a member of the Siemens Mobility family on Tuesday 11 May 2021, alongside its historic technology partners Hacon, Bytemark, and eos.uptrade.
The company begun a new chapter with the objective of reaching new heights, continuing the work of its teams, nurturing its commitment and continuing to achieve its results.
7- PADAM MOBILITY CONTINUES TO ESTABLISH A REGIONAL PRESENCE IN FRANCE
In the Landes area, Padam Mobility assisted SPL Trans-Landes in modernising and standardising the booking systems of all its operational DRT services. 4 urban areas in the region now have a Demand-Responsive Transport service: Dax (Couralin), Biscarosse (Bisca Bus), Pays Tarusate (Escape te!) and Orthe and Arrigans (Transp’Orthe).
In Grand Figeac, the Demand-Responsive Transport has been given a facelift by modernising its service. Padam Mobility, in collaboration with Groupe Delbos, deployed its dynamic DRT solution to facilitate the mobility of the inhabitants of this rural area.
In the Pays de Langres, Padam Mobility and Prêt à Partir, the local transport operator, offer an innovative DRT service called Linggo. This new mobility service connects residents to business areas, medical facilities and the Langres and Culmont-Chalindrey train stations.
JUNE
8- UNA NUOVA RETE IN ITALIA ! PADAM MOBILITY LAUNCHES THE COLBUS DRT SERVICE IN BOLOGNA
Colbus is the first DRT service in the Appennino Bolognese region, a rural and mountainous area outside Bologna, Italy. It complements the existing regional transport offer on the first and last mile. Among other things, it makes it easier for users to get to the main tourist attractions in the region (e.g. hiking trails) from the nearest train stations.
JULY
9- PADAM MOBILITY TECHNOLOGY IS EXPORTED TO CANADA
Continuing its international expansion, Padam Mobility took its first steps in Canada with a pilot project developed jointly with the Société de Transport de l’Outaouais (STO) and Transit. The STO was the first public transport company in Quebec to offer an on-demand travel solution within the Transit trip planner. This was the first North American integration made by Padam Mobility.
10- PADAM MOBILITY AWARDED “50 MOBILITY SOLUTIONS FOR OUR REGIONS” IN FRANCE
Outside of dense urban areas, few solutions are offered other than the private car, while the transport offer could be optimised and rethought according to the specificities of each locality. It is precisely because Padam Mobility is dedicated to this mission that its solutions were labelled as one of the 50 solutions facilitating the mobility of citizens, wherever they are in the territory. These solutions will be presented to the presidents of the French Regions, Departments and Urban Areas, as well as to mayors and local officials.
SEPTEMBER
11- PADAM MOBILITY AND B.E. GREEN LAUNCH THEIR TURNKEY OFFERS FOR SMART AND LOW-CARBON MOBILITY
To meet the growing need for clean and demand-driven mobility solutions, Padam Mobility and B.E. Green launched two turnkey offers for local authorities and companies. The two companies share the common ambition of proposing a decarbonised, efficient transport offer in line with local mobility issues.
12- PADAM MOBILITY PARTICIPATES IN THE RNTP 2021: THE GREAT EVENT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN FRANCE
Padam Mobility had a booth that stood out. Ziad Khoury, Director of Development, gave a well-attended presentation on the “10 keys to succeed in serving peri-urban and rural areas at controlled costs”. This 28th edition of the RNTP was also an opportunity for the company’s various departments’ teams to meet up for convivial moments.
13- PADAM MOBILITY LAUNCHES THE LIBEA DRT SERVICE IN ALBI, FRANCE
Padam Mobility continues its development in the South of France with a new service in Albi, called LibéA. This new service connects the urban area’s suburban communities to the city centre. A website and a mobile application allow users to book their rides easily.
OCTOBER
14- WITH HERTSLYNX, PADAM MOBILITY CONTINUES ITS EXPANSION IN THE UK
On 19 September 2021, HertsLynx, a new Demand-Responsive Transport (DRT) service developed by Padam Mobility and operated by Uno Bus, was launched in the rural areas of Hertfordshire County in the UK. It serves villages in the north and east of the county and fixed destinations in town centres. The service is expected to make it easier for passengers to travel in these low-density areas and address the critical mobility issues they face.
15- TICKETER AND PADAM MOBILITY ANNOUNCE A PARTNERSHIP TO SHAKE UP THE DEMAND-RESPONSIVE TRANSPORT LANDSCAPE IN THE UK
Padam Mobility and Ticketer, an innovative transport data and ticketing company, announced a partnership that expands the opportunities for operators and local authorities to integrate DRT. The aim of this partnership is to make it easier to provide public transport services in areas with low population density, thereby enhancing the attractiveness of these areas.
16- LAUNCH OF THE “HÜPPER” DRT SERVICE IN HÜRTH, GERMANY
End of October, a new DRT service, the “Hüpper”, was launched in Hürth, in the Rhine-Erft district in Germany. The service is intended to serve areas of this small town (just under 60,000 inhabitants) that were previously not well served by public transport. It aims to provide an optimal complement to the existing public transport system.
NOVEMBER
17- PADAM MOBILITY SIGNS A FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT WITH KEOLIS, WORLD LEADER IN SHARED MOBILITY
Padam Mobility announced the signing of a framework agreement with Keolis, the world leader in shared mobility and a pioneer in multimodality, present in 16 countries. Partners since 2017 with the DRT service Résa’Tao in Orleans, the two companies together make more than 20,000 rides per month. The framework agreement will enable Padam Mobility to accelerate its innovation policy and strengthen its presence in Europe on the first and last mile mobility segments and in sparsely populated areas.
18- PADAM MOBILITY AT THE SMART TRANSPORT CONFERENCE IN LONDON
Bringing together mobility experts, innovative transport companies and leading policy makers, including Trudy Harrison, Under Secretary of State for Transport, the conference addressed the most pressing mobility issues of our time: how to meet our climate targets, how to promote innovative transport concepts, or how to change the infrastructure to encourage the use of low emission transport.
The entire UK team of Padam Mobility was represented at the event in London. David Carnero, Head of International Business Development, spoke at the Technology and Innovation session on the key role of data in the development of Demand-Responsive Transport services.
DECEMBER
19- KARLSTADSBUSS NÄRA: THE FIRST PADAM MOBILITY DRT SERVICE IN SCANDINAVIA
After a simulation phase, a new pilot Demand-Responsive Transport service is launched in Karlstad in December 2021. It connects the suburban areas of Karstad to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network. The DRT service is based on Padam Mobility solutions and is operated by Keolis Sweden under the brand Karlstadsbuss.
20- HOLIBRI: A NEW DEMAND-RESPONSIVE TRANSPORT SERVICE IN GERMANY
Padam Mobility continues its expansion in Germany with a new Demand-Responsive Transport service in Höxter, a town of about 30,000 inhabitants located in North Rhine-Westphalia. In collaboration with Hacon, Padam Mobility is deploying its solution to replace the town’s 4 fixed bus lines with an on-demand service called Holibri.
21- A NEW DEMAND-RESPONSIVE TRANSPORT SERVICE IN SURREY, UK
“Surrey Connect” is the name of the new Demand-Responsive Transport network launched by Padam Mobility in the UK, from November 2021. The service, which has been experimented since May 2021, offers residents in the rural area of West Leatherhead a better public transport experience.
2022 WILL BE FULL OF GOOD SURPRISES
The year 2022 will start with some major news:
Padam Mobility finalist of the 2021 UITP Mobility Awards: the project “Providing a complementary mobility solution for people living in peri-urban areas” led by Padam Mobility has been selected as a finalist in the “Public and Urban Transport Strategy” category by the members of the jury, composed of UITP and international public transport experts. The winners of the UITP Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony on 6 February at the MENA Congress in Dubai.
Padam Mobility, Orleans Metropole and Keolis Metropole Orleans are once again extending their Demand-Responsive Transport service, Résa’Tao. With 4 new redesigned areas and a fleet of 39 vehicles, TAO Orleans Metropole is positioned as one of the most innovative and advanced Demand-Responsive Transport networks in France.
Padam Mobility wins an additional DRT network in the UK in Gloucestershire! Scheduled to launch in March 2022 with a fleet of 3 and then 5 vehicles, this is Padam Mobility’s third DRT contract in the UK initiated under the UK Government’s Rural Mobility Fund.
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