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

  • European cycle safety seminar
    March 9, 2015
    The VRUITS project, which is sponsored by the European Commission, has organised a seminar on cyclists’ safety on 26 March, in the city of Helmond in the Netherlands. The project aims at providing recommendations on ITS applications for the improvement of the safety and mobility for vulnerable road users. VRUITS assesses the societal impact of selected ITS applications and demonstrates the use of innovative ITS applications for VRUs. During the seminar the VRUITS partners will discuss how ITS can be used to
  • Kapsch adds ATMS expertise with Transdyn acquisition
    March 25, 2014
    Kapsch has added extensive advanced traffic management system (ATMS) expertise to its portfolio by acquiring US company Transdyn. The move matches with the aim of becoming a major global presence in the inter-urban traffic management sector, says Peter Ummenhofer, Kapsch’s head of ITS Business Unit: “Recognising that there were already very mature and capable ATMS solutions out there, we decided to look at what was already available.
  • Register now for Australian ITS Summit and NeTC
    May 5, 2015
    For the first time, the Australian ITS Summit and the National electronic Tolling Conference (NeTC), which takes place on 12-14 May in Melbourne, will combine as the most important gathering in Australia for ITS professionals in 2015. Delegates attending the combined Summit/NeTC Tolling Conference will have flexibility in attendance and choice of sessions. Attendees can register for: just the NeTC Tolling Conference, just the ITS Summit, or both.
  • AVs will increase traffic in overcrowded downtown areas, says study
    July 10, 2018
    Autonomous vehicles (AVs) will reduce the number of cars and overall travel times in cities but potentially worsen conditions in downtown areas, says the World Economic Forum. The findings come from a study conducted alongside the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Called Reshaping Urban Mobility with Autonomous Vehicles: Lessons from the City of Boston, the partnership recommends city and state governments encourage higher sharing of AVs - and avoid significantly moving away from mass transit systems. A