Skip to main content

Ito World manifesto calls on cities to embrace MaaS

Data and alternative transport can combat congestion, pollution and private car dependency in global cities, says Ito World. The UK transit data specialist has published a manifesto which calls on cities to embrace Mobility as a Service (MaaS) to ‘unlock’ their future potential. The MaaS Manifesto: smart data and accessing a city’s potential insists cities also need to have the right infrastructure and ensure the public and private sectors work with emerging players. Ito World says city authorities u
September 25, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
Data and alternative transport can combat congestion, pollution and private car dependency in global cities, says 5957 Ito World. The UK transit data specialist has published a %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external manifesto false https://www.itoworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Manifesto_Final-1.pdf false false%> which calls on cities to embrace Mobility as a Service (8356 MaaS) to ‘unlock’ their future potential.


The MaaS Manifesto: smart data and accessing a city’s potential insists cities also need to have the right infrastructure and ensure the public and private sectors work with emerging players.

Ito World says city authorities using real-time data to understand people patterns and schedule joined-up services to meet demand is one of five key steps for realising the full opportunity of MaaS.

Other recommendations include: using real-time shared transport occupancy data to optimise services; providing accessible passenger information to encourage travellers to move away from private car use; and making cities people-friendly through establishing green community spaces. In addition, Ito World suggests city authorities should create safe walking and cycling routes to interconnect seamless multi-modal transportation.

Belgian politician Pascal Smet, minister of the government of the Brussels-Capital region, says it is up to city governments to redefine the role of public transport and form partnerships with innovators.

“Public transport needs to remain the backbone of a city. In the future, shared private automated services will have to connect to that backbone within a framework set out by city governments,” Smet adds.

According to the manifesto, MaaS requires a collaboration between private transport companies, data experts and public authorities to be a success in cities.

Authorities and operators working with data experts which utilise open and proprietary data will be able to deliver a single integrated dataset which gives a ‘total-city picture’ of transit options, the document adds.

Johan Herrlin, CEO at Ito World, says transport service providers, mayors, transport commissioners and city authorities are responsible for sharing data and putting measures in place to guide the behaviour of individuals to drive wider societal goals.

“We need to better encourage people to ditch the car and see public transport, bicycles and their own two feet as reliable methods to get around,” Herrlin adds.

UTC

Related Content

  • November 24, 2017
    City of Toronto and Waze share traffic data to help motorists navigate the City
    The City of Toronto has formed a partnership with community-based traffic and navigation app Waze which will provide both companies with free access to each other’s real-time traffic and road data, providing motorists with information on how to navigate the area. It will also allow the City to use anonymous Waze driver and traffic insights to make data-driven infrastructure decisions. Waze will help the City to disseminate traffic and road closure information for major events, highway maintenance and
  • October 16, 2019
    Dyson scraps EV project
    British technology company Dyson has pulled out of a project to build electric vehicles (EVs), saying it is unable to make its car “commercially viable”. Chief executive Sir James Dyson said in a statement: “We have been through a serious process to find a buyer for the project which has, unfortunately, been unsuccessful so far.” The company, known primarily for its vacuum cleaners, says it will continue its £2.5 billion investment programme into new technology in two UK locations and in Singapore. It wil
  • June 16, 2017
    Funding for SMEs and citizens to solve urban challenges using technology
    Future Cities Catapult has announced a US$1.2 million (€1 million) ‘OrganiCity’ Open Call to solve city challenges in London, Aarhus, and Santander using urban data.
  • February 12, 2019
    New York gov: introduce Manhattan road pricing ‘or face 30% fare rise’
    New York’s governor has suggested that unless some form of dynamic pricing is imposed on motorists in the city, there will be a 30% hike in public transit fares and tolls. Democrat Andrew Cuomo said the stiff Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) price rise would hit those using subways, buses, tunnels and bridges, Associated Press (AP) reports. He is calling for tolls which charge motorists entering the most congested areas of Manhattan – south of 60th Street – which he believes could raise $1