On-demand bus service complements traditional fixed-route-and-schedule lines

With a population of around 90,000 inhabitants, Sant Cugat is recognized as being a pioneering smart city within the province of Barcelona. In terms of mobility, the city is committed to giving more space to pedestrians and promoting sustainable public transport through alternatives to private vehicles, such as Demand Responsive Transport (DRT).

Sometimes, when a DRT service is implemented in a new city, stakeholders like transport operators, local authorities, and commuters are initially reluctant to adopt the new technology. They may worry about losing existing transport services, which in some cases work very well and have high ridership, once the excitement and novelty of implementing an innovative mobility system wear off.

In Sant Cugat, however, both the City Council and local transport operator Moventis were clear from the beginning that DRT was a safe bet that not only was no threat to the existing transportation network but also complemented it perfectly to offer quality service and improved user experience while reducing operating costs.

It didn’t take long for new areas of operation to be scheduled and deployed in the city, which now has three different DRT operations that complement the train line and traditional fixed-route-and-schedule buses.

Solution

The city’s first DRT service launched back in July 2017 when a route was established to help connect commuters in the Can Barata neighborhood with the train station. The second service started in March 2019 in the outlying hilly area of Les Planes. And just a few months later, in December 2019, Shotl deployed a new route in Can Trabal that marked the third DRT service within the city boundaries.

All three operations are still running today and ridership continues to increase. Demand for the Can Barata service saw a five-fold increase compared with the previous traditional service. In Les Planes, ridership tripled in just 10 months, while in Can Trabal it increased by 12% in just 6 weeks.

Outcome

The DRT service in Can Trabal covers a total area of 1.6 km2. The Can Barata covers 0.96 km2 and Les Planes 1.38 km2. Together, the three areas have over 50 virtual stops and are served by 16-seater buses with capacity for one wheelchair.

Mr. Pere Aguilar, Head of Public Transport of Sant Cugat’s City Council, said: “There has been an increase in ridership on these routes due to the flexibility which allows you to adapt the service to your travel requirements. Otherwise, you’re tied to a fixed schedule and have to wait for a bus to pass by. It’s great for people to be able to manage their time this way.”

Key results

? Most users are students, young people, and domestic cleaners commuting to nearby cities for work.

? Parents of students using the DRT service were delighted as some previously had to arrive later to work later or change their timetable to get their kids to school.

? Right from the beginning there was an exponential increase in downloads and ride requests, which multiplied demand in less than 3 months. User feedback was also extremely positive.

Beneficiaries

? Sant Cugat residents can now get around more quickly and conveniently without having to rely on private vehicles. Older and younger generations can also travel independently.

? Bus operator Moventis has grown its business volume, gained better data and insights into user behavior, and become a pioneering, innovative service provider.

? Sant Cugat City Council has improved transit services and quality of life for its citizens, and made Sant Cugat a cleaner, greener, more attractive place to live and work, at no extra cost.

? The local community has successfully adopted smart city mobility and technology. Younger generations are learning that it’s possible to move around the city without owning a car.

Video

Follow this link to watch a video about Shotl’s operation in the suburban area of Sant Cugat.