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

  • DGT installs 16 dynamic cyclist signalling equipment, Spain
    October 20, 2017
    To combat the 7,673 accidents that involved cyclists last year, in which 67 died and 736 were injured, the Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has installed 16 dynamic cyclist signalling equipment at four conventional roads in La Rioja, northern Spain, where the visibility is reduced. The project is valued €55, 000 (£49,000). The system can detect an isolated cyclist or group of cyclists on the roads and activate a luminous circumstantial signal which alerts drivers and blinks for a determined and configurable
  • ATRI releases roll stability system analysis
    August 14, 2012
    The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has released the industry's first major comparative analysis of roll stability systems based on carrier operational data. The institute’s analysed crash rates, crash costs, and technology costs for roll stability control (RSC) and electronic stability control (ESC) systems compared to vehicles without any roll stability systems technology. The research, based on data from over 135,000 heavy trucks, indicated that installation of RSC technology may resul
  • Florida DOT hosts annual transportation data symposium
    August 18, 2015
    The second Annual Florida Transportation Data Symposium takes place on 18-20 August at the Omni Orlando at ChampionsGate. Hosted by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the Florida Institute for Consulting Engineers (FICE), the Data Symposium aims to bring together public and private transportation data providers and users to share knowledge regarding data needs, availability and methods for sharing and integrating data to provide optimum value for FDOT, its partners and other customers.
  • Case Systems call boxes and parking system
    April 15, 2013
    Case Systems, which develops and maintains innovative reliable wireless technologies for the transportation and parking industries, will use the ITS America Annual Meeting to highlight its roadside call box technology and parking systems.