ITS (UK): tells Parliament MaaS app alone is not a magic bullet

ITS (UK)’s Mobility as a Service (MaaS) Interest Group has agreed with the Transport Select Committee’s MaaS inquiry in the global and UK interest in the concept, but it must provide a high quality and reliable service to get people to use it. They added that unless done right, it could risk moving people from public transport to on-demand cars. The inquiry focused on potential barriers to MaaS and the response sought to manage expectations. The group, led by representatives from Jacobs, Cubic and Aecom,
January 5, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

ITS (UK)’s Mobility as a Service (8356 MaaS) Interest Group has agreed with the Transport Select Committee’s MaaS inquiry in the global and UK interest in the concept, but it must provide a high quality and reliable service to get people to use it. They added that unless done right, it could risk moving people from public transport to on-demand cars. The inquiry focused on potential barriers to MaaS and the response sought to manage expectations.

The group, led by representatives from Jacobs, Cubic and Aecom, stated that while there are not enough use-cases yet to analyse potential effectiveness, several UK and European pilot projects should start providing evidence soon.

When responding to question on the current barriers, the group referred to local authority resources, real-time information, and private sector motivation. It also highlighted the need for effective Government advice and regulation if a nationwide solution is to be delivered, and that modelling has shown that using MaaS solutions costs more if a user still has a private car. In addition, concerns over social exclusion were also addressed. 

However, the group recognised the opportunities of positioning the UK as a global leader in the delivery of MaaS which represents a significant change in how users access the service.

Andrew Pearce, group chair, said: “What’s clear from our work is that MaaS can have positive or negative effects – the scale and direction of the benefits is down to participation: it’s a team sport where specific contributions are needed from private sector, local and central government – if one party takes over it will fail or be distorted with unwanted effects for the network.”

Related Content

  • September 2, 2021
    And what if MaaS were an opera?
    How do the roles of the various players in successful Mobility as a Service operations play out? Aurélien Cottet thinks it’s worth looking at this complex question from an unusual perspective…
    Read More
  • December 18, 2017
    Copenhagen to showcase ITS in action at ITSWC 2018
    As delegates head for the 2017 ITS World Congress in Montreal, we talk to Copenhagen mayor Morten Kabell about why his city is the ideal location for next year’s event. It may have been a long time coming but the ITS World Congress will be in Copenhagen in 2018 and there can be few more fitting places to host the event. By any number of metrics - interconnected transport, cycle commuting, safer streets, reduced pollution, sustainable energy and quality of life - the Danish capital has implemented what m
    Read More
  • April 23, 2018
    Need for co-operation highlighted at MaaS Market Atlanta conference
    City authorities worldwide need to work more closely together to shape the future of on-demand transportation services. Such co-operation could help reduce congestion and pollution, and improve the lives of citizens - that is the view of leading international experts who will be addressing MaaS Market – Concept to Delivery – the third Mobility as a Service (MaaS) conference to be run by ITS International.
    Read More
  • October 3, 2018
    Copenhagen: everything's gone green
    As the ITS World Congress arrives in Copenhagen, Adam Hill finds out how Dynniq has been helping traffic flow – and CO2 reduction - in the Danish capital. Most of the time, ‘breathing easier’ is just an expression which indicates a metaphorical sigh of relief that something has worked out alright. But it can be literally true, too. Respiratory and other potential health problems which stem from pollution in the world’s increasingly urbanised environments have been well publicised and governments are
    Read More

Highlighted Content