Flexible service: Accommodates riders whose schedules may not fit into fixed route service timings (shift workers/those who work during off-peak hours).Increase service coverage: Allows agencies to reach areas that their fixed route buses may not accommodate, without having to dedicate regular service.Cost-effective: Alternative to fixed route service on low performing routes or during off peak hours.Let’s take a closer look at the advantages of microtransit, for both your agency and riders: “…when properly designed and executed, flexible microtransit services can help eliminate transit deserts, create first- and last-mile connections to transportation hubs, and provide convenient paratransit - all while getting people out of privately driven vehicles.” 2 Most importantly, microtransit enables flexible service and gives riders the power to manage their own transportation. Since agencies will have the opportunity to maximize the use of their resources and reduce road congestion in their communities, microtransit will likely become more mainstream, especially in areas that do not warrant the need for dedicated fixed route service. Microtransit allows for individual service in response to demand. By implementing microtransit service, they ensured the safety of their riders, and only essential trips were being made. The designated vehicle may be an existing fixed route bus, paratransit vehicle, or dedicated vehicle, allowing agencies to maximize the use of their fleet.Īs a real-world example, Lethbridge Transit pivoted to a microtransit type service during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to contend with the sudden shift in demand and social distancing requirements. Using a dedicated app, online booking tool, or by calling in, riders can request a pickup anywhere in a given service area, or only at existing bus stops (depending on the agency’s setup). In this post, we’ll go over its main benefits and what TripSpark’s microtransit app, Rides on Demand, has to offer.Ī simple way to think of microtransit would be using an app to book your trip – kind of like UberPOOL or Lyft Line, but for buses. 1 Microtransit allows agencies to offer riders an on-demand option that is more flexible than designated fixed routes and appointment-like paratransit. Conceptually, microtransit fits somewhere between private individual transportation (cars or taxicabs or TNCs) and public mass transit (bus). The term “microtransit” is fairly novel but describes what can be thought of more generally as “flexible transit”.
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