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ULTIMO Project Introduces its First Automated On-Demand Service in Geneva powered by Padam Mobility

on Autonomous on-Demand VehiclesInnovationPadam Mobility NewsPublic Authorities by Padam Mobility

The transport authority “Transports Publics Genevois” (tpg) is taking a pioneering role in introducing autonomous on-demand vehicles to the existing public transport system in Geneva. The deployment site selected as part of the ULTIMO project now officially offers on-demand automated shuttle transport, which users can request via the already well-established regional DRT app. Located in the Belle-Idée housing development, a stone’s throw from the French border, the project covers a 38-hectare site with various facilities such as a hospital, a kindergarten, a conference centre and restaurants. At the heart of this innovative project are three autonomous, electrically powered vehicles that take passengers to their desired destinations on demand.

A revolutionary way of getting around

At the Belle-Idée site in Thônex, Canton Geneva, tpg’s automated on-demand transport service offers passengers the chance to experience revolutionary new mobility. Unlike traditional fixed transport lines, users can move freely throughout the Belle Idée site thanks to the autonomous vehicles and their fully flexible configuration. The service will be available from 28 September to 30 November 2023, every Thursday between 10:00 and 14:00. Booking a ride is easy via the tpgFlex mobile app, powered by Padam Mobility, which is available free of charge for iOS and Android. During this test phase, one tpg employee will be on board each of the three autonomous vehicles to ensure safety and compliance.

What distinguishes this AV-DRT operation from other pilot projects with autonomous vehicles is the simultaneity of the “standard” DRT operation involving drivers as well as AV vehicles operating without a “conventional” driver. For the first time in such a project, tpg’s DRT system combines these two operating models.

This public opening follows an initial test phase of autonomous vehicles in Belle-Idée, which took place from 2020 to 2022. It paves the way for the ULTIMO project, which was introduced in December 2022. ULTIMO, funded by the EU and Switzerland, boasts a total budget of €55 million over four years (2022-2026) and is planned for three pilot cities in Europe, including Geneva (Switzerland), Herford (Germany) and Oslo (Norway). The project partners plan to deploy several automated on-demand services in the coming years as a means to improve public transport, especially in sparsely populated areas or off-peak hours.

The Future of Transportation in Geneva

With the roll-out of this first version of the innovative automated on-demand transport service, tpg and their partners are driving transportation in Geneva into the future. This visionary approach combines cutting-edge technology with user-centric flexibility, enhancing accessibility, reducing emissions, and offering a glimpse of what the future holds for public transportation.

 

About Padam Mobility

Padam Mobility, a key partner in the ULTIMO project, specializes in optimizing shared mobility solutions. Their expertise lies in creating software solutions for on-demand and shared transportation, making them an ideal collaborator for advancing automated on-demand transport services. The in-house project team for automated on-demand services has developed a dedicated solution for the orchestration of AV fleets. This has made Padam Mobility a strong partner not only for DRT projects but also for the deployment of automated fleets. Their technical solutions cover all important steps necessary for the execution of AV projects, from the shift management of vehicles to the booking and registration of passengers on board.

About ULTIMO

The ULTIMO project is an initiative of the EU and Switzerland and comprises more than 20 project partners from the fields of technology, industry and academia. The partners’ common goal is to integrate large-scale, on-demand and passenger-oriented Automated Vehicle services into the traditional public transport network. To achieve this, diverse cross-sector teams are researching and accompanying the introduction of CCAM (cooperative, connected and automated mobility) systems in selected deployment sites in different locations across Europe.

 

This article could interest you as well: Padam Mobility joins PAVE to educate and innovate in Autonomous Transport

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DRT & Transport Consulting – Webinar with Xuefei Wang, Jack Holland and Chris Hillcoat – Q&A 

on InnovationPublic AuthoritiesTransit Operators by Padam Mobility

Demand-Responsive Transport (DRT) aims to reach people where access to the public transport network is scarce or non-existent, for example in outlying or very rural areas. In fact, the idea of providing people with transportation on demand is not new. However, digitalised on-demand transport optimises the resources used, chooses more efficient routes and operates in such a way that as many people as possible are served at the same time. The concept of DRT is undoubtedly revolutionising the public transport offer, yet it requires careful planning and management. Each area has different characteristics, including its geographical setting, as well as population density, and mobility habits of the citizens, among others. 

To illustrate how Padam Mobility works in setting up DRT services as well as providing insights into the (technical) options available to the Transport Consulting team to model on-demand transport, we hosted a webinar together with Landor Links. Chaired by Chris Hillcoat, mobility expert at KPMG, Xuefei Wang, Head of Transport Consulting, and Jack Holland, Head of Business Development, Northern Europe, exchanged in-depth views from theory and practice.

The interest in the webinar was huge. The audience could ask their questions to the panellists in advance or during the webinar. However, 90 minutes was hardly enough to answer all questions in detail. Therefore, we summarise the most frequently asked questions in the following article. Your question is not included or you would like to contact Xuefei or Jack about another topic? – You can reach them at xuefei@padam.io or jack@padam.io. 

  • When you model a DRT service, what are the most important contextual questions? 

When we model a DRT service, we always aim to fill gaps in the existing public transport offer. This can also mean that a DRT service complements an already fixed line at certain times of the day or that the line is transformed into a DRT service when demand is low, for example at off-peak times. 

There are also various contextual aspects that we include in our analysis: Demographics (Who are potential users and what are their needs?), Geography (What are the points of interest in the area? Are there remote areas?, etc.), Economics (Are there industrial sites in the area? Does it make sense to set up transport for employees?), Mobility (What is the modal split in the area? What other mobility providers are present? How do locals usually get around?) and Policy (Is there a local mobility plan? What funds are available for mobility measures?).

All these aspects can shed light on what kind of DRT services people in an area need and influence the modelling of the service: Use case, service design, size of the fleet, costs, number of potential users, etc. 

  • Do you have guides on the minimum and maximum populations, trip densities etc. which support a successful DRT service? 

Rural services covering vast areas with a free-floating design are likely to have a vehicle occupancy rate of 2 – 3 passengers per hour (at maturity). 

Peri-urban services with quite densely populated areas are likely to have occupancy rates of 3 – 5 passengers per hour with a free-floating design. It could be possible to have 6+ in certain service designs if the ingredients are right – such as feeder or virtual lines to a popular transport hub or workplace in peak times. 

Minimum population – DRT can cover extremely rural areas, but high subsidies would have to be considered.

Maximum population – In European urban areas with strong bus networks and other public transport, DRT is unlikely to be needed or have a positive effect on congested roads. Here, the focus should be on mass public transport.

  • What are some of the characteristics of rural areas in relation to DRT? Do these characteristics make it easier or harder to operate? 

In very rural areas, the distance between destinations is greater, so bundling can be less efficient than in suburban areas. In this case, feeder services in combination with free-floating can be a good service concept, and attempts should also be made to combine D2D-Dial-a-Ride with DRT from bus stop to bus stop.

In addition, deploying EVs is a big challenge in rural areas. Minibuses are a real challenge for battery capacity as they do not have a large footprint for battery capacity, unlike full sizes buses. 

There may also be signal problems with the internet, which can disrupt operations. One solution could be using a multi-sim onboard router that picks up different internet providers. Another solution is to print the itinerary for the day as a PDF file so that the driver can use it as a reference, but this would only list the pre-booked passengers, which means less flexibility for cancellations and bookings on that day.

  • What are some of the common misunderstandings about DRT you see in tenders from local and regional authorities? 

DRT services with only one vehicle can cover a large area, but can also only reach a very small number of passengers and are therefore often insufficient for residents.

In the UK, most DRTs focus on the free-floating service as a one-size-fits-all service solution. However, from a commercial point of view, other service concepts often involve lower subsidies – semi-flexible, virtual and feeder services can complement free-floating at peak times by targeting demand in specific areas.

Compared to the US, France and Scandinavian countries, we are not yet as advanced in integrating DRT with other modes of transport, such as dial-a-ride, door-to-school, taxi, etc. However, such integration would help to reduce the overall cost of implementation.

Also, pricing in tenders is often based on a trip-per-vehicle model. However, for larger projects, per-trip models may work much better.

  • How can DRT contribute to accessibility and inclusion?

Studies suggest that lack of access to transport puts people at a much greater risk of social isolation. This can in turn lead to high levels of funding needed for healthcare, lack of work, and lack of access to vital goods and services. DRT and dial-a-ride (plus community transport) are essential for serving these areas.

Transport for the North estimates that 3.3 million people in the North of England, or 21.3% of the population, live in areas in which there is a relatively high risk of social exclusion because of issues with the transport system. These areas are widely distributed across the North but are particularly concentrated in former manufacturing and mining communities, in coastal areas, and in smaller towns and cities. The research tells us that high levels of car dependency are the key driver of TRSE (transport-related social exclusion) in the North. This has been exacerbated by declining bus service provision – reducing the travel choices for the most vulnerable people in our communities

  • How does DRT interact with other public transport modes, individually and in a MaaS platform? Can it create efficiencies for bus companies?

One of our most important principles is the integration of DRT into the existing transport network. Non-competition is a very effective tool for this, ensuring that DRT services do not cannibalise fixed bus services. The non-competition feature allows users to be directed to the existing fixed-route service instead of offering a DRT ride.

MaaS is an important concept to integrate DRT as a first and last-mile solution to connect people to existing services. In doing so, feeder services, for example, can effectively take people from their desired stop to key nodes, such as train stations.

  • How do you create a DRT proposition which fills the gap in general transport provision and doesn’t detract from fixed route services whilst also being easy for customers to understand? 

Padam Mobility has recently launched a new feature that allows displaying alternative fixed-line services and redirecting users directly to these services. In this way, we achieve that DRT services do not compete with the existing fixed bus line network and thus become counterproductive.  

  • Do you have examples of how to get integration between DRT and mainline bus services and the railway network? 

Yes, we can use bus and railway timetables in the back office. This schedules the DRT service to meet the timetable (e.g. 5 minutes before). Our best use case for this is the Greater Paris region. We operate 125 vehicles that serve more than 60 metro stations. This generates 700,000 trips each year that connect people to the metro or intercity train. 

We also operate another scheme in Strasbourg using 40 electric minibuses which expands the tram network into the rural areas surrounding the line terminus. 

  • Scheme economics have always been a challenge for this type of scheme. How would you go about making the best case possible in any given situation? 

We believe that DRT funding should be looked at across the silos of funding, not solely on DRT-specific funding. This should look at existing Community Transport funding, dial-a-ride funding, home-to-school and Section 106 Grant Funding to create a long-term funding plan for DRT.

 

This article could might interest you as well: Transport planning and DRT 

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Transport planning and DRT

on InnovationPublic AuthoritiesTransit Operators by Padam Mobility
survey
An Article by Beate Kubitz

Some areas of the UK have become transport deserts, served by public transport a few times per week if at all. This worrying trend has come into focus as the need to cut transport emissions has become more pressing. At the same time, social and economic issues (for instance the productivity gap between the UK and its European neighbours) point to the absence of public transport as a factor in deprivation and economic lassitude.

Reversing the desertification trend is a tricky long term project, but it’s one that progressive local authorities are tackling.

The Padam Moblity transport planning team works on how to use DRT to help ensure that more people have better access to public transport. We use our transport planning tools analyse the existing transport network and the population and work out the best way to link them together. From this analysis we can simulate usage to show authorities the journeys we would anticipate, and look at different scenarios and configurations. This is an inexpensive way to help authorities make decisions about their network and where DRT can improve it. Once we have demonstrated different options we use them to suggest DRT pilots and their impacts.

Transport connections and fixed routes can be a difficult match, particularly in rural areas. To illustrate the kinds of situations we tackle, imagine you’re trying to get passengers to a railway station where trains leave every 30 minutes in each direction – so, every hour there’s a train to Town A or Town B. This frequency of service isn’t unusual for a smaller rural station – indeed you could argue it’s pretty good these days – but it creates headaches for anyone planning a feeder service using a fixed route bus.

Bus speeds on rural roads aren’t stellar. On smaller roads, or passing through settlements, they may be around 20 mph average speed moving (not including stops). Even if the overall average speed is 20 mph, this means the longest possible route you can cover with a single vehicle while still offering an hourly connecting service is 10 miles (because the bus will need to make a return journey too). Once you factor in the distance users are willing to walk to stops (which can be very low for elderly passengers, or anyone with small children in tow) the population covered by a service shrinks still further.

Then there is the question of when to drop off and pick up your passengers at the station. The wait for a connection affects not just the journey time but also its overall quality, especially if it’s at a small station with no facilities. Ideally there needs to be enough time between the bus arriving and the train departing that a couple of minutes’ lateness won’t cause a missed connection, but also not so much that passengers are left waiting on a cold, exposed station platform for a protracted period of time. If the bus visits the station every hour, it might be the case that it can only connect well with services to Town A, while the train to Town B may involve a wait of 20 or 30 minutes.

What about passengers arriving to catch the connecting service? You could factor in some layover time at the station but that would reduce the overall length of route than you can serve while still keeping the same frequency.

Under these circumstances the DRT model of putting in a booking via a call centre or an app, being collected from outside or near your front door, and being able to divert or change should something happen to the connecting train, starts to look very appealing.

A second advantage for DRT is that the buses can take a more direct route. If a fixed bus route is programmed to travel near more homes (enabling it to pick up more people) this generally means diverting the route so that it’s not direct. For instance, it may pass through a housing estate off the main journey trajectory or, in rural areas, via a village, creating a less direct and much longer route with more stops. Obviously there is no guarantee that there will be people at all those stops, however the bus is still obliged to follow the time table. This extends the lengths of journeys making them longer than the equivalent trip by car, often by several times the journey time. In contrast, DRT only diverts to pick up known passengers, and whilst the trip will be longer than the trip by car, the difference is much smaller.

All these considerations go into designing the provision of DRT. But it doesn’t stop there. Once there is a pilot in place our transport planning team can simulate different scenarios to work out how to improve performance. Are more vehicles required at certain times of day or could some be cut and journeys reorganised to ensure the same performance?

The longer term impact is that the network is being designed with knowledge of where people want to go. DRT bookings enable us to see the desire lines for transport – the most popular origins and destinations for journeys. Origins and destinations, together with the times of day people are requesting trips, create indicators we look for to see whether the routes can be adapted to semi-fixed or fixed at certain times of day. As ridership increases, this becomes more likely and more practical. Using desired trips on DRT as a guide also means that any fixed lines can be optimised for the journeys people want to make. Of course, the limitations of fixed lines won’t meet everyone’s needs, so it’s unlikely to completely remove the need for DRT, however, creating a mixed of fixed and DRT services can optimise the overall network.

With the tool of DRT in our transport planning toolbox, we can design a network to meet more people’s needs, more of the time – and start to make transport deserts bloom.

 

This article might interest you as well: Accessing rural bus services – how can we ensure equity? 

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Autonomous vehicles in public road transport – a cutting-edge technology

on Autonomous on-Demand VehiclesDiscoveriesInnovationInnovationPublic AuthoritiesUncategorized by Padam Mobility
AV in Lyon

The introduction of autonomous vehicles (AV) onto public roads is no longer a distant fantasy. The technology is very much in use in different contexts across the world. However, how it is applied and what it is used for has the potential to create very different futures. In this article, we look at the way on-demand autonomous vehicles could fundamentally revolutionise public transport to provide better services, with lower environmental impacts which optimise value for money.

Indeed, using autonomous vehicles to improve public transport provides a safer, well-regulated framework for allowing driverless vehicles on the public highway. In contrast, concerns about privately owned autonomous vehicles are growing, with questions around their safety, interaction with pedestrians and cyclists and indeed the potential for congestion caused by an increased number of low occupancy vehicles, however ‘smart’ they are.

Increased safety in road traffic

Safety is one of the most important concerns in public transport, and public transport operators have extremely high standards to ensure the safety of passengers and the general public. The testing and use of autonomous vehicles within this framework will promote the safety benefits of autonomous vehicles and enable the development of best practice more rapidly and effectively.

For example, a study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute showed that autonomous vehicles have the potential to prevent up to 92% of accidents caused by human error.

Improved efficiency of public transport

By deploying autonomous vehicles on-demand as part of public transport, traffic flows can be managed more easily and public transport can be matched more closely to demand. A study by the Swedish transport authority Trafikverket found that autonomous buses in the city of Stockholm could reduce traffic by up to 80 per cent by reacting more flexibly to traffic situations and using roads more efficiently. This is supported by a McKinsey Global Institute study which found that autonomous shuttles can reduce private car use by 20 per cent and thus increase road transport capacity.

Environmental benefits

Autonomous vehicles work well within the electrification of transport, contributing to a reduced impact on the environment from public road passenger transport. Thanks to their intelligent routing, which leads to a reduction in congestion and traffic jams, the emission of harmful pollutants is further reduced. According to a study by the University of California, Berkeley, the use of autonomous vehicles in public transport could reduce emissions by up to 90 percent.

Cost savings

Autonomous vehicles do not require drivers, reducing costs for operators. This is particularly critical for services which are less intensively utilised but still needed to enable people to have access to public transport. According to a study by Boston Consulting Group, the use of autonomous vehicles in local public transport in Europe could save up to 30 percent of operating costs. Another study by the consulting firm Roland Berger shows that self-driving vehicles in local public transport could save up to 50 percent of operating costs by 2030. Whilst drivers may not be required, remote operators may still be needed to oversee the fleet.

Saving time and resources thanks to intelligent routing can also achieve a significant reduction in operating costs. On-demand services that use autonomous vehicles, can calculate exactly how many vehicles should be deployed at what time and how effective utilisation can be achieved, just like all DRT services from Padam Mobility, thanks to intelligent algorithms. This sustainable use of resources is a key factor in cost savings for public transport.

Improved services and inclusion

On-demand autonomous vehicles increase the availability of public mobility services. This is particularly important in remote areas where public transport is scarce. Autonomous vehicles in combination with on-demand services can offer a flexible alternative that is more accessible to many people than traditional public transport. This enables elderly people are no longer mobile, or young people who cannot drive themselves, to participate more in social life.

Autonomous vehicles can also improve mobility for people with reduced mobility. Through the use of barrier-free autonomous vehicles, elderly or mobility-impaired people are able to move around without having to rely on the help of others. On-demand AV services allow them to make more spontaneous decisions, which increases their independence.

Saving space

Autonomous on-demand services in public transport can play a significant role in optimising spatial usage. By using autonomous vehicles that operate on demand, public transport can be better matched to the actual demand. Unlike traditional public transport, which runs on fixed routes and schedules, autonomous on-demand services can respond flexibly to passenger demands. This can help increase the use of public transport by making it easier and more convenient to get from point A to point B. Ultimately, this can in turn help to reduce the number of private vehicles on the roads, which can lead to a reduction in traffic.

Autonomous on-demand services can therefore help to make public space more attractive, for example by reducing parking space and thus creating more space for pedestrian routes and recreational areas.

Public vs. Private?

The use of autonomous vehicles for public transport has the potential to help make public transport safer, more efficient, more environmentally friendly, more cost-effective and more inclusive.

However, the introduction of autonomous technology has provoked debate and raised concerns. There is a particular fear that the technology is not mature enough and that technical errors and accidents may occur. This seems to be very much the case where automotive manufacturers are racing to be first to market with consumer products to capture the mass market. However,  in a public transport context, the industry has a gold standard approach prioritising safety and enabling scrutiny within open regulatory frameworks. Indeed the safety culture of the rail and airline industry provides assurances that cannot be matched for people driving their own vehicles.

Likewise, the nature of driverless vehicles are likely to benefit transport operators who are reporting that is has become very difficult to recruit new bus drivers. It has become quite common that trips have to be cancelled due to a lack of staff. In areas that have problems finding staff, autonomous vehicles can be a remedy. This makes the technology an important tool in providing reliable and cost-effective mobility services that users can fully trust.

The transition to mainly autonomous driving in local public transport certainly brings hurdles and major challenges. However, the aspects of road safety and environmental protection are almost impossible to ignore. Only attractive public transport that is accessible and available will encourage people to switch to shared transport. On-demand autonomous vehicles, unlike human-driven vehicles, have the key advantages that can help public transport become the most popular means of mobility in the long term.

 

 

Learn more about Padam Mobility’s AV solutions

This article might also interest you: EU-funded ULTIMP project brings Padam Mobility on board as technology partner for new AV projects 

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Île-de-France-Mobilités extends partnership with Padam Mobility for 4 years 

on InnovationPadam Mobility NewsPublic AuthoritiesTransit Operators by Padam Mobility
Le réseau TàD IDFM avec Padam Mobility

The Padam Mobility – Setec consortium has once again been appointed by Île-de-France Mobilités to provide the Île-de-France Mobilités on-demand service. The network is currently probably the largest on-demand transport system in the world.

Île-de-France Mobilités currently deploys Padam Mobility’s on-demand solutions in around 40 territories. By 2022, a total of around 390,000 passengers have been transported using the on-demand services. Now, Île-de-France Mobilité is expanding its collaboration with Padam Mobility and Setec. The collaboration includes consultancy on improving the on-demand network as well as support for operational management and quality assurance of the services. The agency R3LIEF will take care of the communication measures for the introduction of new and existing on-demand services in the area of operation.

The DRT service launched by Île-de-France Mobilités is unique in Europe and one of the most extensive on-demand services in the world. It provides answers to the challenges of areas with low population density and poor access to regular infrastructure. The example of Île-de-France Mobilités shows very well that on-demand transport brings multiple advantages of a social, environmental and economic nature.

Shared and intelligent mobility or the necessary transformation of our mobility behaviour

There are many people who move from the city centre to the suburbs. There, however, the public infrastructure is usually much worse developed. As a result, the car becomes the main means of transport, which is not always convenient in times of rising fuel prices. One way to relieve people and offer them flexible public transport is to introduce on-demand transport.

In Greater Paris, an area of 12,000 km2 and 12.2 million inhabitants, the issue of transport is a major challenge. The investments required to provide the area with public transport throughout are considerable. In addition, the people’s expectations are very diverse.

Starting in 2019, Île-de-France Mobilités has relied on Padam Mobility’s highly flexible Transport-on-Demand solution to offer customised solutions to residents of the least densely populated areas of the Paris region and to complement regular transport services. Today, the on-demand service of Île-de-France Mobilités is a central link in the region’s public transport system. This is also reflected in the figures:

  • +900,000 passengers transported by public transport in the Île-de-France region since the launch of TAD IDFM in 2019,
  • 36 areas served, i.e. almost 620 municipalities, including 120 stations,
  • A fleet of more than 120 vehicles,
  • Up to 56,000 passengers are transported per month.

TAD Île-de-France Mobilités: From experiment to service expansion

For about four years, Île-de-France Mobilités has been committed to shared, integrated, inclusive, smart and sustainable mobility through the provision of on-demand transport. Padam Mobility and the engineering firm Setec were commissioned with the planning and implementation.

In order to provide the best possible service, Padam Mobility, together with Île-de-France Mobilités, has developed a feature that is unique on the market: the multi-territory function. This feature makes it possible to manage different on-demand services on the same platform, even if they cover different territories. The multi-territory capability is essential for coordination on a regional level. In this way, different providers and use cases can be integrated step by step for the entire Greater Paris area.

In 2022, more than 10 new areas were served by the Île-de-France Mobilités on-demand bus service: Bassin Chellois, Dourdan, Étampes, Etrechy-Lardy, Essonne Sud Est, Créçois, Courtabœuf, Meaux & Ourcq, Val d’Yerres, Saint-Germain – Boucle de Seine, Plateau de Bièvre, Domont, etc. The service is considered one of the most flexible and largest on-demand transport networks in the world.

DRT Île-de-France Mobilités is a forerunner of what flexible mobility will be in the future. A mobility that is able to adapt to the needs of users and territories. Thanks to our technological expertise and know-how in the public transport sector, we can help Île-de-France Mobilités to position itself at the forefront of the market.”

Grégoire Bonnat, CEO and Co-Founder of Padam Mobility

About Padam Mobility, a Siemens Mobility Company

Since 2014, Padam Mobility has been developing digital solutions for dynamic, on-demand transport to transform peri-urban and rural areas and bring communities closer together. To this end, the company offers transport operators and municipalities a software suite with intelligent and flexible solutions that improve mobility where demand is low. The suite is based on powerful algorithms and artificial intelligence. Padam Mobility has been part of the Siemens Group since 2021 and complements its portfolio of digital transport and mobility solutions.

About setec its, a subsidiary of the setec Group

setec its specialises in the development of mobility and urban transport technology on a national and international level. The company designs and develops intelligent transport services, systems and infrastructures. It also advises its clients on their strategic challenges at a high technical level. setec its accompanies 360° mobility and transport authorities, local authorities, financiers, manufacturers and industrial companies in mobility and transport projects. Since its foundation, setec its has been pursuing new innovations: Digitalisation of services (MaaS), decarbonisation of mobility, connected and autonomous vehicles, digital engineering (simulations, BIM & 3D+, AI, …).

About R3LIEF

R3LIEF, an independent and innovative communication agency, accompanies various players in the field of mobility in France, Switzerland and Belgium. Marketing and communication consultancy, graphic design studio, web solutions, passenger information and much more – R3LIEF has developed a range of services specifically tailored to public transport companies and operators.

About Île-de-France Mobilités

Île-de-France Mobilités designs, organises and finances public transport, new forms of mobility and sustainable mobility for the Paris region. At the heart of the Île-de-France transport network, Île-de-France Mobilités unites all stakeholders (passengers, elected representatives, developers, transport companies, infrastructure managers, etc.). Led by Valérie Pécresse, President of the Île-de-France Region, Île-de-France Mobilités is made up of the Île-de-France Region and the eight departments of Île-de-France. Thus, the vision of the entire transport system of Île-de-France (train, RER, metro, tram, T Zen and bus) is united under one brand.

 

This article might also interest you: On-Demand-Mobility – The evolution of local public transport

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Goodbye 2022 – a glance back at the past 12 months of Padam Mobility

on Autonomous on-Demand VehiclesEnvironmentInnovationPadam Mobility NewsPublic AuthoritiesTransit Operators by Padam Mobility

Newly developed territories, service expansions, media coverage, relocation to a new HQ, new innovation areas, strong growth… A look back at an intense 2022 for Padam Mobility.

JANUARY

Orléans Métropole is extending its Résa’Tao DRT network to 4 new, redesigned zones, and a fleet of 39 vehicles.

With this project, TAO Orléans Métropole is positioning itself as one of France’s most innovative and advanced transport on-demand networks.

Padam Mobility took the opportunity to visit the site. Find here the interview of Romain Roy, Vice-President of Orléans Métropole, about the support of Padam Mobility in the implementation of the Résa’Tao network in Orléans.

“We have the feeling that we are investing taxpayers’ money better, especially as Orléans Métropole’s strategy is not to save money but to offer a better service. Transport on Demand, which is an innovative solution that does not exclude anyone, not only complements the classic offer but goes further by connecting 100% of the inhabitants of Orléans Métropole to the existing transport offer… “

Romain Roy, Vice-President responsible for transport and travel at Orléans Métropole

Learn more

FEBRUARY

New services in Bourges: Vitabus and Libertibus

Operated by Agglobus (RatpDev), Vitabus offers mobility to residents of communes that are not served by the network’s fixed routes. The LibertiBus service, on the other hand, meets the travel needs of people with reduced mobility residing in the 20 communes of the region (Bourges Plus, Saint-Florent-sur-Cher, Fussy and Pigny).

50 recruitments for Padam Mobility in 2022

Following its acquisition by Siemens, and to sustain i strong growth, the company is constantly recruiting various profiles. From trainees to senior staff, from the sales department to developers and HR… This year, all of the company’s value chains have been reinforced. A dozen positions are still available on the Welcome to the Jungle page of Padam Mobility.

Learn more about our values – Link to Padam Mobility’s website

Padam Mobility and Landor Links host Masterclass series

Together with Landor Links, Padam kicked off a three-part masterclass series. The aim of the series was to talk to partners and experts about current developments in the field of shared mobility. Participants, mainly transport operators and transport authorities, had the chance to voice their questions and concerns about DRT and get advice on how to integrate DRT into their BSIPs applications.

In the first Masterclass, Antonio Carmona, General Manager International and Head of UK Sales at Ticketer, and David Carnero, former Head of International Business Development and Partnerships at Padam Mobility, together with chair Matt Smallwood, Head of Digital Strategy, Transport for the North, talked about why – and how –  transport operators and public transport authorities should tackle the core problem of integrated ticketing.  

In the second masterclass, David spoke with Prospective Labs CEO and founder Pete Ferguson about the importance of data for DRT networks.

The third masterclass focused on the scaling potential of DTR services. On this topic, our former Head of UK Business Development Jack Holland spoke with Daniel Mould, General Director of WeDRT.

MARCH 

Andorra: launch of the UCLIC service in Encamp and Canilo

Uclic is a Transport on Demand service operated by Feda that offers users the opportunity to travel around the cities of Encamp and Canilo for 1 euro. The service is carried out with an 8-seater vehicle and has a total of 56 stops covering the different areas of the two municipalities.

The aim of this service is to bring the remote areas of the city closer to the centre and to facilitate sustainable mobility for all, particularly for the most disadvantaged, such as the elderly and young people. The service has been very well received: Nine months later, more than 72,000 reservations have been made, with an average rating of 4.9/5 for the service.

APRIL 

Padam Mobility and Hacon start their first joint On-Demand project in Switzerland

SALÜ, an on-demand service offered by Swiss transport operator BUS Ostschweiz AG, was launched in March for the city of Wil. Users have access to a Web App, and IOS and Android apps to obtain information and book the service. Padam Mobility and Hacon were responsible for the technical implementation. SALÜ is already the fifth on-demand transport project implemented by the two Siemens subsidiaries in the DACH region within just a few months. 

MAY

European rollout is accelerating with new DRT services in Spain

Two DRT services have been launched under the name TADex in the rural areas of Bajadoz (operator: Damas Extremadura), and Cáceres (operator: Solís Autocares) in Extremadura, Spain. They provide an essential travel solution for these areas, which are far from the main centre.

More about Padam Mobility’s use cases – Link to our blog

Padam Mobility is part of Siemen’s booth at the IT-Trans in Karlsruhe (Germany)

At this year’s IT-Trans trade fair in Karlsruhe, the Padam team was prominently integrated on the Siemens Mobility stand. After about a year as a firm part of the Siemens Mobility family, the software companies are increasingly growing together and showing their strength as a unit for intermodal transport systems.

JUNE

VGI-FLEXI: On-demand transport in the suburban area of Beilngries (Germany)

Since June 2022, the Greater Ingolstadt area has a new Demand Responsive Transport service called VGI-Flexi. The district of Eichstätt is the first VGI member association to introduce a digital Transport on Demand service, enabling the residents of Beilngries, Kinding and Plankstetten to benefit from a flexible mobility service. The service area comprises about 70 stops.

In October, the service was extended to a new area, around Scheyern. Four more areas will follow in 2023. Stay tuned!

Set-up of a Paratransit, peri-urban and rural DRT network in Aveyron with Agglobus, and in Rubanbleu for rural services.

Operated by SATAR, these complementary services now cover a significant part of the areas not covered by traditional networks. Thus, rural and suburban residents and those with reduced mobility can contact a call centre to request a ride. In total, fifteen vehicles have been chartered to improve the territorial coverage of public transport in the area.

Download our case study about DRT in rural ares

STO in Canada extends collaboration with Padam Mobility to offer on-demand transport in the areas of Buckingham and Masson-Angers

Also, great news from Canada – our client the Outaouais Transport Company (Société de transport de l’Outaouais, STO) decided to extend the on-demand transport service for local trips in Buckingham and Masson-Angers districts for a second consecutive year. This means residents in these districts can continue to use STO’s on-demand service in addition to the regular bus network and active modes of transport.

JULY

Padam Mobility pilots autonomous vehicles in Lyon

As part of the EU-funded “AVENUE“ project, which tested autonomous shuttles in four European cities, including Luxembourg, Geneva and Copenhagen, Padam Mobility was selected as a technology partner to run the autonomous DRT experiment in the Lyon region.

Learn more about our AV solutions

AUGUST

Padam Mobility and Hacon launch a mobility application in Albi

In the context of a growing mobility offer and changing needs, the Albigeois Agglomeration Community has introduced a new regional brand for its mobility offers: libéA. This new brand reflects the ambition to provide the territory’s inhabitants with sustainable and reliable mobility. Behind this brand is a desire to harmonise the transport offer in order to facilitate intermodal travel for users.

The new brand identity is reflected in the new libéA mobilités application, developed by Hacon and Padam Mobility and available since the end of June. Users of the application enjoy an enhanced experience when planning their trips. The best intermodal connections are presented on the basis of existing data transmitted in real-time by the various local public operators in the agglomeration.

Visit our blog for further information

SEPTEMBER

A new service in Leicester

NovusFlex is an on-demand transport service that gives people the opportunity to travel around the New Lubbesthorpe area and access jobs and services in the neighbouring towns of Leicester and Narborough. New Lubbesthorpe is a new development located between Leicester and Narborough. 

The service, launched in August 2022 and operated by Vectare, will complement a regular shuttle service between the development and Leicester city centre.

New Lubbesthorpe’s landowner and main developer, The Drummond Estate, funded the service to provide residents with attractive and flexible transport options. Go Travel Solutions, a consultancy specialising in sustainable mobility solutions, acted as lead advisor in the design and installation of this innovative transport service.

Access the service’s website

Cognac: Deployment of a door-to-door DRT for PRM and senior citizens

Launched in September 2022, Trans’porte is a door-to-door transport-on-demand service operating on reservation throughout four defined zones in the Grand Cognac area. Operated by TRANSCOM, Trans’Porte runs from Monday to Saturday, excluding public holidays, on the basis of 3 days per week and per zone.

A Transport on Demand service initiated by a municipality: Blagnac is following the example of Clamart

The “TAD Blagnac” is the new free DRT service that was set up to complement the Toulouse urban network in poorly served urban areas. It is aimed at residents of the Layrac, Savoie and Les Prés districts. It has about sixty stops spread across the town.

Padam Mobility further expands its presence in Europe

Padam Mobility continues its national and international development with new deployments.

Our new launches not only reinforce our leadership in intelligent DRT solutions, they also confirm that our customers consider Padam Mobility to be a truly trusted partner. A company whose experts make their know-how available to operators and local authorities for the co-construction of sustainable mobility solutions. Solutions that make perfect sense in the context of the current power crisis.”

Grégoire Bonnat, CEO at Padam Mobility

Padam Mobility is part of the Siemens Mobility stand at Inno Trans in Berlin

Inno Trans in Berlin is one of the world’s largest trade fairs for public mobility. As part of the Siemens Mobility family, Padam Mobility was represented together with its sister companies Hacon, eos.uptrade and Sqills at the impressive Siemens Mobility stand on over 1000m². Together with our teams, we were able to present our on-demand technology to the visitors and also talk about our possibilities of linking road and rail.

Find out more (Text in German)

OCTOBER

Padam Mobility showcases the silent revolution of Dynamic On-Demand Transport on the occasion of the inauguration of its new headquarters

Grégoire Bonnat, CEO and co-founder, and Thibault Lécuyer, COO, spoke about the recent boom in on-demand transport and the outlook for the coming months. Following Padam Mobility’s invitation, Vincent Pilloy and Virgile Lapierre, from the Collectif mobilité Île-de-France, a partner of Padam Mobility, presented the results of their latest survey on travel in the greater Paris region.

Spending power, regional development, agile and inexpensive investment, positive environmental impact, social cohesion… there are many reasons that can explain the 150% growth in the use of Padam Mobility’s services over the last 16 months. And while the media may not yet be making a big deal of it, users are embracing the silent revolution.

Visit our blog for further information

UK: The Robin, a new Transport on Demand service, is introduced in Gloucestershire

The Robin on-demand service was launched in mid-October 2022 in Gloucestershire. The aim of the service is to provide reliable public transport to the largely rural areas of the Forest of Dean and North Cotswolds. Many people in these areas have little access to public transport, which significantly reduces their overall quality of life.

Users can book the service by phone, app or through the booking website. For the latter two options, they can choose to pay directly via the website or app, or by cash or debit card when entering the vehicle.

Visit the service’s website

A new use case for Transport on Demand: Cultural outings

This new use case of Transport on Demand for Padam Mobility is already bringing concrete benefits. The public can escape traffic jams around cultural venues by not having to use their own vehicle. The overall aim of this initiative is to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of cultural events, while at the same time relieving the public transport networks, both at peak and off-peak times.

Visit our blog for more information

Concentrated Power for Northern Europe: Sales Team at Persontrafik in Stockholm with its own stand

In August, the sales team for the Northern European market expanded – Padam Moblity was able to recruit Pranav Chittur as the new Business Development Manager.

In October, Pranav and other sales colleagues represented Padam not only at the Maas in Europe conference in Amsterdam, but also at Persontrafik in Sweden.

NOVEMBER

The Linggo service in the Langres region wins an award from the French Federation

In a bid to digitalise the region, the MixedTransport Syndicate of the Pays de Langres commissioned Padam Mobility to deploy its Transport on Demand solution.

The spotlight brought by the “Federation of things that work” is now giving Linggo’s founders a taste for more. “We really want to help other elected representatives interested in setting up this type of network. We were helped fifteen years ago and now we want to help other territories to set up a transport network adapted to their needs.”

Already, elected representatives from the Vendée, the South-West and even the Paris region have shown interest in the system.

Find out more (Text in French)

Padam Mobility at the AGIR days in Nice

Padam Mobility was joined at the AGIR Days by Elisabeth Portelli, head of the Icilà service of Envibus operated by the Sophia Antipolis Agglomeration Community. Together with the Padam team, she provided details to visitors about the DRT service, which was launched in July 2019. Since its launch, more than 200,000 passengers have been transported. The initial objective was to meet the mobility needs of the region, which is made up of 21 municipalities with nearly 2,500 businesses and more than 68,000 jobs in an area of 24 km².

We currently work with Padam Mobility in 15 municipalities. We have a ticket system for technical problems, and the support team is responsive and attentive to our needs. There are real constructive exchanges and the software is updated on a regular basis.”

Elisabeth Portelli, Head of DRT at Icilà de Envibus

ULTIMO announces Padam Mobility as official partner

In early October 2022, the first phase of the project started, involving renowned partners from the fields of transport, vehicle manufacturing, science and research, politics and technology. They all share a holistic goal of developing autonomous public transport services that can be integrated into the existing infrastructure to move people in a resource-efficient, inclusive and cost-effective way.

In November, the official project launch was celebrated in Brussels. Padam Mobility’s Project Lead Javier Guimerá presented Padam Mobilty’s on-demand AV solutions to the other partners and gave insights into the successes of the AV projects supported by Padam Mobility so far.

Holibri in the fast lane: After less than a year, on-demand service in Höxter, Germany already welcomes 50,000 passenger

In December 2021, the on-demand service “Holibri” was introduced in Höxter, a city with a population of around 30,000 – easily accessible with almost 1,300 virtual stops throughout the city. And the service is catching on: An average of 4,500 passengers per month use the fleet, which is powered exclusively by green electricity – and consists of only 4 vehicles in total.

More information (Text in German)

DECEMBER

IDFM renews trust in Padam Mobility for another four years

The Padam Mobility – Setec consortium has once again been selected by Île-de-France Mobilités to continue the deployment of TàD Île-de-France Mobilités until 2026.

The Transport on Demand service operated by Île-de-France Mobilités is one of the largest DRT networks in the world. In a couple of days, it is expected to reach one million passengers. The system provides a response to the challenges of mobility in areas with low population density and poor connections to the regular infrastructure. For the renewal, the agency RƎLIEF was appointed to boost the popularity of the offer among users.

2023: Off to a great start!

On Thursday 12 January, Padam Mobility is hosting its own event: MeetUp Mobility in Marseille. The focus of the event is on public-private dialogue in the context of shared mobility projects in rural areas.

The idea behind it? To exchange opinions and make initiatives known.

Autonomous vehicle operated by TGP in Geneva
  •   Alternating between high and low population density in a multi-faceted area
  •   Geological and topographical constraints: Coastal areas, mountains…
  •   Seasonal mobility needs
  •   Ageing population
  •   Car traffic

Further info and registration

 

 

If you want to stay up to date, subscribe to our newsletter or contact us directly. 

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On-Demand-Transport for cultural outings in urban areas, a new use case being tested in Brussels

on InnovationPadam Mobility News by Padam Mobility

The Adamo project allows residents of the eastern and southern parts of the Brussels Region to travel by Demand-Responsive Transport (DRT) to the Théâtre Royal de La Monnaie for cultural outings, thus offering an additional alternative to the use of private cars.

Reducing the use of private cars for cultural events thanks to DRT

The carbon assessment carried out by the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie revealed that a significant lever for reducing its emissions lies in the transportation of its audience. Moreover, road congestion, the late finishing time of shows, the sometimes long distances, and the absence of alternatives considered to be reliable have also led the theatre to experiment with Transport on Demand.

A DRT solution co-constructed and orchestrated by Espace Mobilité

Named “Adamo” for Adagio – Mobility, the initiative is also a reference to Salvatore Adamo, an Italian-Belgian singer. The Adamo project is the result of a long collaboration between Padam Mobility’s Transport Consulting team, with the help of Espaces-Mobilités, an independent consultancy firm specialising in the management of public space and mobility, and HUSK, a transport company. The Federal Government’s Department of Mobility and Transport is currently covering the costs. Adamo aims, among other things, to evaluate the effectiveness of Dynamic Demand Transport for the cultural sector.

Adamo’s objective is to encourage people who come to the show by car, who have difficulty arriving on time or returning home late at night, or who prefer the comfort and punctuality of a shuttle. By grouping the trips, Adamo also aims to be more efficient than a simple taxi.” 

Guillaume Servonnat, Project Manager at Espaces Mobilités.

Prospects for the future of mobility in the cultural sector

The operation aims to promote new mobility practices, with the objective of being complementary to public transport while being more attractive and comfortable than the private car.

Serving a dozen communes in the Brussels Region, the service has been available since 28 October. Theatre visitors who use the transport service are rewarded with a drink at the opera bar. For the period November-December 2022, Adamo is only available to the inhabitants of the East and South of the Brussels Region and its immediate surroundings. An extension of the zone will be examined from 2023 onwards. Adamo is flexible and can operate between one and five vehicles, but can request up to fifteen drivers if necessary. Reservations can be made in advance up to 24 hours before the shows.

Why should Transport on Demand be used to serve cultural venues?

Ce nouveau cas d’usage du Transport à la Demande pour Padam Mobility fait d’ores et déjà émerger des bénéfices concrets. Il permet au public de se dispenser des bouchons aux abords des lieux de culture en lui proposant de se passer de son véhicule personnel. Côté organisations, on espère réduire significativement les bilans carbones grâce à cette initiative, tout en soulageant les réseaux de transport public, que ce soit en heure pleine ou en heure creuse.  

How does Transport on Demand by Padam Mobility work?

As a leader in shared mobility, Padam Mobility meets the objectives of improving transport services in sparsely populated areas and gives all users greater freedom of movement. The company develops dynamic and intelligent Transport on Demand solutions based on artificial intelligence.

  • Users book their journeys in real-time or in advance via an app, a website or a call centre.
  • Drivers follow the progress of their optimised itinerary according to the bookings.
  • Through a dedicated management interface, transport operators supervise operations and collect the data needed to continuously improve the service.

 

You want to know more about our services? Contact us! 

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On-demand mobility: The evolution of local public transport

on DiscoveriesInnovationPublic Authorities by Padam Mobility
Bus sur un parking

Making public transport more flexible and inclusive, improving regional connectivity in sparsely populated areas, offering a feeder solution to the main transport network… There are many advantages of on-demand mobility, but what are the main areas of application? 

Use cases covered by Padam Mobility for dynamic Demand-Responsive Transport (DDRT)

Use Case 1: On-demand transport in peri-urban areas

Connecting peripheral areas to the existing public transport network is one of the big challenges for cities. It is sometimes counterproductive and also very expensive to set up new fixed lines. Many cities such as Strasbourg or Orléans therefore rely on dynamic, demand-driven transport solutions:

  • Connecting periurban areas.
  • Providing a mobility solution for the first and last kilometre.
  • Optimising operating costs while supporting the digital transition of on-demand transport.
  • Offering a service that complements conventional public transport and provides an alternative to the private car.

Use Case 2: On-demand transport in rural areas

Rural areas are a real challenge for mobility providers, as demand is usually low here and routes are very long. Nevertheless, especially elderly or young people depend on a well-functioning public transport system. Padam Mobility’s solutions can therefore support areas with low population density in the following way:

  • Opening up areas that are difficult to access
  • Increasing the attractiveness of the location
  • Providing a suitable alternative to the private car
  • Adding to public transport and carpooling

Learn more

Use Case 3: Transport of people with reduced mobility (Paratransit)

Improving the mobility of persons with reduced mobility through on-demand transport is an important goal of DRT. It is the most widespread use case in the world, and many people automatically associate DRT with Paratransit. Padam Mobility solutions support Paratransit services as follows:

  • Ensuring mobility for all
  • Strengthening the independence of people with reduced mobility
  • Improving access to services and jobs
  • Optimising operating costs while modernising existing Paratransit services
  • Providing universal transportation service by merging on-demand services and Paratransit
  • Offering an additional service for the transportation of persons with reduced mobility in adapted vehicles

Learn more about: What your Paratransit users really need

Use Case 4: Regional mobility

How to offer better interconnection of public transport on a regional level? How can you manage multiple on-demand services on just one platform, as TAD IDFM, for example, is demonstrating? Padam Mobility provides the ideal solutions for these tasks:

  • Unifying all on-demand transport services under one brand
  • Covering a wide range of use cases across the region
  • Opening up areas that are difficult to access
  • Tailor-made solutions for residents in sparsely populated areas to complement regular means of transport such as bus and train

Download our case study “How to better connect urban centres and peri-urban areas with DRT?”

Use Case 5: Off-peak hours 

Maintaining a public transport service even when demand is low is a challenge. Thanks to its flexibility, on-demand mobility can ensure an attractive public transport service during these times without being inefficient, as the example of QuiBus in Padua shows.

  • Ensuring universal coverage, even when demand is low
  • Enabling all users to move freely and safely at all times
  • Improving access to services and jobs and facilitating mobility for shift workers
  • Boosting nightlife and increasing the attractiveness of the region
  • Promoting intermodality and reducing private car trips

Use Case 6: Business areas and corporates 

This use case is aimed at companies that want to ensure smooth transportation of their employees to, from or within their business parks and campuses. Besides the impact on their attractiveness, companies use Padam Mobility’s on-demand transport to:

  • Connect businesses to the existing public transport network
  • Reduce travel times between home and work
  • Provide an environmentally friendly and sensible alternative to the private car while reducing fuel costs
  • Offer an environmentally friendly service for internal access to the company premises
  • Deliver a service that is tailored to the specific working hours of some employees

Download our case study on this topic!

Use Case 7 [NEW]: On-demand transport for events and cultural offerings

Whether for occasional events (festivals, fairs, etc.) or ever-existing cultural institutions (theatres, museums, etc.), on-demand mobility solutions can significantly relieve the traffic situation. Regardless of the availability of the offer (often on weekends, at night) or the areas to be served, on-demand offers can serve the demand much better due to their flexibility. They also enable users to travel without their car. If several people would refrain from travelling by their car, the sector could significantly reduce its ecological footprint: After all, 80% of the sector’s CO2 emissions are caused by visitors’ journeys.

At a glance, the benefits of on-demand transport for the cultural sector:

  • Avoiding traffic congestion near venues
  • Enabling visitors to avoid using their own cars
  • Significantly reducing the carbon footprint of events and cultural venues
  • Compensate for gaps in the public transport network

Read about the ADAMO project in Brussels

Use Case 8 [NEW]: DRT + AV

Autonomous public mobility has the potential to play an important role in the development of an environmentally friendly, safe and efficient public transport infrastructure. The EU-funded projects AVENUE and Ultimo, in which Padam Mobility is involved, show that this is not a pipe dream. On-demand services that pick up passengers autonomously and drop them off at their desired destination help to improve current problems of the public transport sector. They are resource-saving, environmentally friendly and a safe transport alternative.

Autonomous on-demand services are particularly suitable for the following use cases:

  • First and last kilometre in extensive areas: e.g. company campuses, hospitals and airports
  • Connecting large-scale residential areas with structuring transport hubs such as tram, bus, suburban railway or underground stops
  • For short distances – an easily accessible, environmentally friendly alternative to the private car
  • Compensate for the existing driver shortage, reduce personnel costs and at the same time create a better service

We are happy to advise you! Let’s get in touch!

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EU-funded ULTIMO project brings Padam Mobility on board as technology partner for new AV projects

on Autonomous on-Demand VehiclesInnovationPadam Mobility NewsPublic AuthoritiesTransit Operators by Padam Mobility

The research and promotion of user-centred and more sustainable mobility through autonomous vehicles are the core objectives of the EU-funded ULTIMO HORIZON EUROPE project. 

In early October 2022, the first phase of the project started, involving renowned partners from the fields of transport, vehicle manufacturing, science and research, politics and technology. They all share a holistic goal of developing autonomous public transport services that can be integrated into the existing infrastructure to move people in a resource-efficient, inclusive and cost-effective way. At the core of these efforts is that the services are on-demand, bundle as many people as possible per trip and are scalable. 

Padam Mobility has already been involved in the predecessor project AVENUE (Autonomous Vehicles to Evolve to a New Urban Experience), which ended in October 2022. As a specialist in the field of on-demand transport, Padam Mobility was selected as the technology provider for the autonomous DRT service OL Vallée operated by Keolis. With the interfaces provided by Padam Mobility, it was possible for users of the autonomous driving service to order a shuttle bus via app and track its progress in real-time as well as validating their pick-up by means of an advanced QR code system.

Following the successful completion of the AVENUE project, ULTIMO is the next important step towards integrating autonomous on-demand services more firmly into the public transport system.

The entire project period will span over four years and will be backed by 40 million euros, with the European Union contributing a share of 24 million euros and Switzerland 16 million euros. 

Initially, three areas located in the region of Oberfranken (Germany), Oslo (Norway) and Geneva (Switzerland) have been identified as suitable test environments. In each of these areas, the ULTIMO partners will test autonomously driving on-demand transport and thus contribute to the advancement of the technology.

Autonomously driving public transport offers decisive advantages that have the potential to minimise existing challenges. These include traffic safety, saving resources and environmentally friendly operations. All these factors qualify on-demand AV as a promising future form of public transportation.

In about a week, on 29 November 2022, all project partners will gather in Brussels to officially launch the ULTIMO project. In addition, Padam Mobility will be present at the POLIS conference in Brussels the following day and is looking forward to presenting the project in more detail to interested visitors. 

 

 

 

This article might also interest you: Padam Mobility pilots autonomous on-demand vehicles in Lyon 

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Why travel times of transport-on-demand services should be communicated and how they can be improved

on InnovationPublic AuthoritiesTransit Operators by Padam Mobility

Many people believe that on-demand services are not able to be on time. To overcome this image, Padam Mobility works to better communicate and optimise the estimated travel times for its on-demand and paratransit services.

Communication of travel times: significant impact on users of on-demand and paratransit services

Users of on-demand and paratransit services expect that the pick-up times they are offered will be guaranteed. This is understandable, of course, because no one wants to be late for medical appointments, miss connecting trains, arrive late for work or school, and so on. The desire for a reliable transport service increases the rarer public transport journeys become available or the more remote an area is. If on-demand transport services are implemented appropriately, it is mainly feeder lines¹ or “diverging” lines² that can provide punctual intermodal connections with the main transport lines of an area.

Communication of travel times: a great importance for the quality of services

Better information enables better communication between drivers and users, ensuring satisfaction for all stakeholders in on-demand and paratransit services.

Regardless of the type of configuration, the user must be able to access clear and transparent information at any time, informing him of possible disruptions to the service. Real-time information, delivered by notification via the user app or by email, is therefore crucial.

In addition, drivers also need accurate information about how long it will take them to get from A to B, how traffic conditions will affect them and to estimate whether there may be delays. This type of information allows them to have better control over their journey times.

Optimising travel times: cartographic layers for initial assessments of traffic conditions

When establishing an on-demand or paratransit service, considerations are made to best address the regional conditions of an area. First, a travel time estimate is created using several cartographic layers, one of which was specifically developed by the Padam Mobility teams.

These different layers provide information on traffic conditions, particularly in real-time, i.e. at the time a journey is made. They analyse different impacts on the routes followed by the vehicles and store the information generated as additional factors that affect the travel time of the following trips.

Optimising travel times: Effects of passenger pooling

The benefit of on-demand or paratransit services is that passengers are pooled in the same vehicle. This may require the vehicle to take detours in order to pool as many passengers as possible who are sharing part of their journey.

While the cartographic layers provide information about traffic conditions that allow for an estimate of travel time, these estimates are further refined by the consideration of diversion rates. These rates correspond to the number of detours a passenger may take. They are calculated for each reservation based on the direct travel time between the point of departure and arrival by applying a multiplication factor to this direct route. The diversion rates are then adjusted according to the specificities of the area and the requirements of the respective mobility authorities.

The estimation of diversion times allows users to have an accurate idea of their ride (duration, arrival time, possible delay, etc.) and organise themselves accordingly. Cartographic layers, pooling of bookings and diversion rates continuously provide Padam Mobility’s teams with information that allows them to develop tools that meet users’ needs and guarantee them the best experience. An internal study by Padam Mobility has even shown that diversion rates have a positive impact on perceived punctuality.

 

Learn more about Padam Mobility 

This article might interest you: Without the guarantee of advanced booking, no efficient route optimisation 

¹The “Feeder” line configuration allows users to be picked up at one or more specific stops and dropped off at one or more points that need to be served at specific times, so that several consecutive points of interest can be served.

²The line configuration “divergent” enables the establishment of an on-demand service for which no prior reservation is required. Users specify their stop request directly to the driver when they board the bus. The driver then selects the stop that the user wants to go to.

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