Demand responsive transport

The public transport special forms provide a means-tested way of public transport in the city, local, or regional services at home and abroad represents the margin ranges from buses, the usual stops hit on fixed line due to normal public transport fares as required, up to taxi service which at fixed departure times individually partly from door to door.

The designations for these deals are - as well as the deals themselves - very different: for example, Dial-a, call line drive and call - a-ride or Radiobus (Milan, Czech Republic), Publicar ( Switzerland ) and Belbus (Netherlands, Dutch cable. " call ").

In many call - bus lines usually remain in circulation in the student, and partly in the rush hour ordinary buses because the ridership at these times is greatly increased.

• 3.1 Line Taxi 3.1.1 line operation with taxis

Demand-driven operation

Even the use of smaller vehicles or stops operation only when required constitutes a demand- oriented operation to distinguish between

• Demand- vehicle use ( eg in bus joint, midi, minibuses or taxis, and bus trailer ),
• Demand-oriented lines (partial or branch line only on request, direct operation or eg ring line, loop trip)
• Demand- ride offer ( clock offer or demand-driven roadmap, general or only partial call handling ) and
• Demand-driven stops operation ( request stop, additional service on request, stop between stops, operation up to the front door or door -to-door ).

The products continue to differ in the tariff structure. Offers primary care, eg for the development of rural areas, are usually carried out without or with small additions at the normal rate. Additional services that go beyond basic care, and complementary to, are offered with higher comfort surcharges or partly special promotional fares ( often these are Call - collection - taxis). The public transport special shapes including line operations with exclusively voluntary staff ( Bürgerbus ) or by taxi companies on behalf of a regular transport company. However, citizens are no longer legally buses for public transport and therefore can not be used as a replacement or competition for public transport services.

The passenger information for need-based offers must provide information on request (" call no later than a certain time before use " ), stops operation ( line path ) and vehicle use include. Terms such as " taxi bus " or " route taxi " are not sufficient for this, as these are merely the size of the vehicles used call ( minibus, car ), but not the two properties of a " call " bus ( bus call) - a taxi can be hailed, the " taxi bus ", however, runs only after ordering.

Call bus routes and taxis

Distinguishing features

They range from the demand-driven cycle operation until the individual operation to order. Also, single line branches (eg remote villages ) are served only on request. Another possibility is a combination of regular and call service if at main bus stops (station, transfer point ) is omitted on an application.

, The basic distinguishing features

• The bus is that the passenger has to register his trip request a calling device at the bus stop or on a special telephone number in a control center. Another possibility is the application of a light rail or bus driver. The order must be a certain amount of time before the scheduled departure date, usually 30-120 minutes earlier. Thus, the vehicle can be scheduled demand-driven. To shorten the time required order, a well-frequented taxi stand can be used on a connecting stop.
• To the normal taxi is that the rides at specified journey times, fixed routes at fixed and transport tariffs ( often at a premium, sometimes with special rates ) are performed. As many passengers to be transported together. People who want to drive a similar route at about the same time, ie simultaneously conveyed.

Usually, the provider of the municipal public transport have closed for the taxi - use agreements with one or several local taxi companies. Each passenger has to pay a tariff which is already defined fare. So he will not be charged as usual on the vehicle and taximeter. These trips are usually specially marked in the timetable.

Organization

The booking of a transport of passengers requires a special organization to accept and forward telephone calls as well (eg for commuters ) to work permanent orders. For this purpose, either ( a taxi company in most cases) or a central call center is a locally achievable Central necessary. In the latter case, the call is often done via a special telephone number ( in Germany 0180 ... with special tariffs for calls from mobile networks ). Passengers emerge here next to the fare additional costs that are not reimbursed by, for example, a fare discount. The transport company incurred additional costs due to staff and, where appropriate, facilities for information, processing and call centers. Another possibility is automated concepts for example by call points, which are available via computer directly to bus drivers in contact or - conceivable in the future - through a fully automated SMS and Internet order.

In many call - bus lines usually remain in circulation in the student, and partly in the rush hour ordinary buses because the ridership at these times is greatly increased and productive use justifies.

Call bus, Paratransit, taxi bus

This form of demand operation is applied to offers basic services and development. Additional costs for passengers are held low or largely avoided. Goal is the provision of a minimum in areas with low ridership. From a historic point of view in this case, there are strong differences, including the inclusion of weekends and holidays, the evening ( late night journeys ), night and morning traffic.

Designations:

• Call line drive ( ALF), call -line service ( ALD)
• Call bus, taxi call line (ALT, alita )
• Dial-a, Paratransit, "call - me - bus "
• Line need taxi ( LBT )
• " Taxi bus ", " route taxi ", " Bedarfsbus "
• Call taxi, call taxi

Examples of a first test run took place in the years 1977/78 in Friedrichshafen and in Wunstorf.

The vehicles run on fixed lines - mostly on the same route, which is used in times stronger passenger numbers from the normal line traffic. However, they only drive on order and usually serve only the stops for which there is an operation request. In general, the normal tariff applies, in some cases, must be paid a nominal fee.

Because on the one hand routes are served, usually differ from those of the buses in the suburbs and on the other hand, a high driving frequency is to be achieved, usually mini or minibuses are used.

But some Paratransit concepts should also avoid empty trips to outlying stations. Rufbushaltestellen, also called request stops are only approached when an order of a passenger is present. The Rufbushaltestellen the ÖBB Postbuses for example, send the order directly to the bus driver. The technical equipment of the Rufbushaltestelle has to direct the order in time further, that the bus driver still has enough time to approach the stop. In this case, no separate schedule is created for these lines with Rufbushaltestellen. If no order exists, the travel time saved is included in the schedule reserve, which is the bus driver available. This concept therefore serves mainly to conserve kilometers services of buses and higher riding comfort of passengers.

Call - a-ride

Abbreviations: AST, Astax ( Austria ) In these systems, although there is a solid network of stops, the drive away from stop to stop, however, is arbitrary and the particular needs of travelers adapted (often operate to the front door). This system differs from a shared taxi, which usually Greater taxis or mini buses are used, but which can be better described as " jointly appointed " Taxi.

In Germany, various surface counties AST lines have introduced for the operation of rural areas. It focuses first on the provision of a minimum on weekdays on less popular compounds (ie to offer similar to call bus lines). Added to offer as a replacement or supplement to the regular bus operation in low-load transport - in the evening into the night, in the morning traffic and on weekends. The latter is also within urban areas or in suburban areas. Frequently, using following train or bus takes place.

Offered is often a network of several lines with central transfer point and direct connections. For the use of either a regular composite tariff, but in some cases applied with special comfort aggregates or a special tariff. Line networks in the country are designed so that even remote places can be reached (possibly through changes). The booking of deals done via a central telephone number, including to fraud by the provider ( taxi company ) prevent. The taxis can hold in the approached places at each bus stop, but not to an address you specify.

On-demand area of ​​operation

In -demand area holding call buses criss-cross of house -to- house or stop -to- stop. The concept follows the idea that people in minibus without timetable and binding line ( unlike the bus and call Anrufsammeltaxi ) but be transported by pooling ride ( unlike the taxi) as individual as the people own cars.

The distinguishing features of Dial-a - systems are their spontaneous, flexible and easy usability ( " Just call !") And the use of GPS satellite positioning, radio data transmission and PC-based tour ( " telematics "). The order taking control and dynamic scheduling of routes aims to optimize the routes, taking into account aspects such as journey time and comfort. The Dial-a forms a telematics applications in public transport par excellence with the following advantages: absolute spatial and temporal development, transfer-free connections, maximum network forming ability and good feeder function to regular buses and trains. In Switzerland, this system is operated under the name Publicar and in Luxembourg as Flexibus.

Comparable from the point of common journeys with individual flexibility is the concept of Dynamic Ridesharing, pool their transportation needs and offerings in the people. In contrast, however, professional drivers are busy in -demand area of ​​operation only.

Other shipping services

Line taxi

The term line taxi is usually a regular line operation meant by a fixed, not demand-oriented roadmap with a wide-body car. In this case, a prior registration is only required for group trips because of the limited number of seats. In contrast to Bürgerbus operation with paid employees takes place, usually a taxi commissioned plant. A line taxi service may be certain peak times, but also based on need be made by call.

Line Taxis can be found very often in Eastern Europe (Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Bulgaria), where they are " Marschrutnoje taksi " short " Marschrutka " in Bulgaria " Marschrutno taksi " called. Although you have a set distance, but is kept for disembarking passengers at any desired point on call. Person entering passengers at bus stops that are on the track, but is also taken to waving outside the stops. The price ranges between the fare for a bus ride and the price of a regular taxi.

In Latin America they are called usually Colectivo or Público, in Israel Scherut, in Turkey they are called Dolmus, in East Africa Matatu, tro-tro in Ghana. In Indonesia you can take the Bemo, the Philippines by jeepney and in Hong Kong by minibus. In parts of Africa, the term bus taxi or the French translation taxi (de) Brousse is common.

A list of the different names in different countries is available in this article.

Line operation with taxis

If this whole, mostly uncrowded, lines are quite taken over by a taxi company, one also speaks of a line operation with taxis, instead of regular buses also operate here minibuses and / or taxis to solid, non- demand- schedule.

Bürgerbus

Under a citizen bus is defined as a bus route that has usually founded on a private initiative ( Bürgerbus club ) to compensate for gaps in public transport. A citizen bus can drive on order - but also in the regular (clock) operation. It is characteristic of most citizens buses that they are driven by minibus through volunteer drivers.

Trampbus

In a Trampbus an exit (possibly also entry ) outside stops or between stops is available on request. Such offers are particularly in rural, sparsely populated area, they are also used in large cities for the late - night traffic.

Personal Rapid Transit ( PRT)

PRT is a concept of a leaderless, track guided passenger transportation system using his scheduled clocked or out as needed transport vehicles small independent cabins, go with which passengers individually to order without intermediate stops on the removed lines most exclusive lane automatically to their destination

Passenger information

Call buses put on the regular cycle operation a considerable range change dar. through the necessary appointment - even for the return trip ( generally at least 30-60 minutes before the minute and sometimes even the night before ) - are spontaneous or time is not exactly predictable trips hardly possible. The exact departure and journey times are not predictable for passengers. Tenders are therefore not available for certain groups of passengers. For this reason, a considerable marking schedules and local notice boards is necessary. A simple sign (z as holiday traffic ) can be confused with the labeling of line paths or traffic restrictions will not do it justice.

The situation is different when the (connection ) ordering can be done in 10 to 20 minutes at a light rail or bus drivers to shorten the pre-registration period. Such offers can then also be used spontaneously. There is also the possibility of a central transfer point ( train station or bus station in inner cities ) to allow a range of use without an appointment - this eliminates a large part of the passengers to log in to a direction of travel. It may be exempted from the pre-announcement also several stops, the result is a combination of regular clock and call operation. Here, however, there are high requirements on information systems to be simple and understandable to inform. If the reason for the classification of individual stops as the call stops is not clearly identifiable, the passengers are overwhelmed.

As with the regular bus belonging to the passenger information on the vehicle line name and destination ( infrastructure ). Other points: connection, network and tariff information and a locally identifiable telephone number ( area code). Special numbers are only from a landline at local rates achievable ( 0180 numbers), mobile phones (mobile phone ) are higher tariffs to pay. Since most passengers are students in rural areas and also the return journey must be logged done very many calls from mobile phones.