DEMAND RESPONSIVE TRANSPORT: TOWARDS BEST PRACTICE IN RURAL APPLICATIONS

This paper provides an introduction to Telematics-based demand responsive transportation (DRT) systems based upon organization via travel dispatch centers (TDCs) using booking and reservation systems with a capacity to dynamically assign passengers and vehicles and optimize the routes. Automatic vehicle locating (AVL) systems are used to provide real time information on the status and location of the fleet for the route optimizing software. Concentration is on recent British experience and an introduction is provided to rural examples of DRT drawing on early experience of the implementation of DRT services. The paper also identifies some key issues for policy makers concerned with the future implementation of DRT in rural areas.