Public funding for bus services is in crisis. That’s common knowledge. But what is less well publicised is how minibus demand responsive transport (DRT) can ameliorate many of the otherwise damaging service withdrawals in a cost-effective manner – and in most cases, with no subsidy.
One commercial DRT service promises to be with customers within 10 minutes. Another offers cashless, Uber-like transactions, where users conduct their entire interaction with the operator via app.
Interestingly, it’s not just the minibus industry that sees DRT as potentially accounting for a chunk of the public transport demand of the future.
Both Ford and Mercedes-Benz own DRT providers in Chariot and Via respectively. While their motive is clearly to create an additional outlet for the vehicles that they produce, both are conservative corporations that don’t invest without being sure of a return.
Much of the minibus industry has been demand responsive for years. It was a leader in the concept.
But now, instead of being considered as a bridesmaid to the mainstream bus business, DRT has the chance to show what it is made of and become an integral part of many people’s travel habits, whether that is in the rural or the urban landscape.
