Skip to main content

Public transport study: What moves the sector?

A new study by transportation software provider PTV Group concludes that scarcity of resources and demographic change are determining the future of public transport. The study illustrates which topics are moving the public transport sector and how stakeholders are dealing with them. The study involved around 300 participants from around the world, including transport operators, associations, consultants and engineering companies. The majority (81 per cent) stated fewer resources and climate change as the l
February 11, 2013 Read time: 3 mins
A new study by transportation software provider 3264 PTV Group concludes that scarcity of resources and demographic change are determining the future of public transport.  The study illustrates which topics are moving the public transport sector and how stakeholders are dealing with them.

The study involved around 300 participants from around the world, including transport operators, associations, consultants and engineering companies. The majority (81 per cent) stated fewer resources and climate change as the largest industry driver. Moreover, 80 per cent believe that demographic change is a strong driver.

The four different groups evaluated both topics differently. For example, transport operators and consulting and engineering organisations placed major emphasis on green concepts: Over half of those surveyed (72 per cent) are working on more efficient vehicle utilisation. Optimised schedules came second (61 per cent). The use of environmentally friendly vehicles, such as solar buses or hybrid vehicles, came third (58 per cent).

Transport associations and authorities in particular see the need for action on demographic change. Half of the transport associations state that it is a strong driver; for transport authorities it is as much as 67 per cent. "For example, due to our ageing society, school transport will drop off, which in many regions has a decisive influence on the public transport offerings," says Dr Ing. Peter Mott, business development director of PTV Group. This traffic represents an important source of revenue for transport operators and associations. They will therefore be forced to develop new, sustainable concepts, mastering the challenges of demographic change.

According to Mott, with the increasing flexibility of offerings due to alternative forms of operation as well as demand-responsive operation, there is a variety of ideas in progress.  "As a provider of transport planning software, it is exciting for us to see which ideas will prevail and how software-supported planning will contribute to design," he says.

The study claims that a good quarter of those surveyed have already complemented their offering with alternative service forms, such as dial-a-ride transport services, and around one in ten is already offering demand-responsive operations such as on request by pressing a button at the bus stop or stopping on request. One in five is planning to implement the latter in the next five years.

The study can be downloaded from the PTV Group website, %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal www.ptv-vision.com/PuT www.ptv-vision.com/PuT false http://www.ptv-vision.com/PuT false false%>.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Flir and Traficon track cyclists
    May 21, 2012
    Flir has teamed up with Traficon to develop automatic detection for cyclists using thermal imaging. The two companies have jointly developed a thermal video solution that meets all federal and state guidelines for tracking cyclists throughout the approach to an intersection.
  • Open Roads updates Alaska’s 511 website and wins Virginia contract
    April 22, 2013
    Open Roads and the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) have introduced a new version of the 511 Traveler Information Website
  • CHAMP final workshop
    June 12, 2014
    The European Cycling Heroes Advancing sustainable Mobility Practice (CHAMP) project will come to an end in September 2014. The final workshop takes place in Gent, Belgium on 11-12 September. The CHAMP project brings together leading cities in the field of cycling. Within the project, they have looked at innovative ways to further boost cycling in their cities and enhance local policies. CHAMP has developed and tested a performance analysis tool, building on self-analysis as well as peer review by ot
  • G&D puts Guest of Honour country Brazil in the CIPURSE smartcard spotlight at CARTES 2013
    November 19, 2013
    Giesecke & Devrient and Infineon have joined forces to provide “contactless smartcards compliant with the CIPURSE Open Standard in Volume Quantities” and will be able to discuss here at CARTES 2013 how these new cards “are being used today in Brazil”.