Abstract
AbstractThis chapter aims to describe the role of innovation and digital solutions in facing the mobility needs of the rural areas and tourist destinations and, at the same time, to discuss the problems and conditions for their use in the provision of the different mobility and transport services. Innovation in the mobility provision chain is analysed in relation to the relevant service elements (schemes, planning, programming, evaluation and support) in order to clarify that innovation does not automatically mean digital solutions. An overview of the emerging trends in digital solutions is provided, focusing on the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) concept and mobile applications. For the APP, market-specific considerations are developed on the different roles and typologies, making a classification for understanding current Mobility APP “Jungle”. Moreover, the concept of Shared Use Mobility Agency (SUMA) is presented. SUMA aims to integrate smart mobility services under the concept of MaaS in order to answer to the mobility needs of residents and tourists acting on the demand and providing coordinated collective and ridesharing transport services. SUMA could be considered an “innovative” approach mixing advanced digital architecture and shared mobility schemes with the relevant organization, operation and business elements. Section 5 presents the SUMA implementation in Elba island (Regione Toscana-Italy), within CIVITAS DESTINATIONS project underlying the specifications of the platform and APP. Finally, besides the specific recommendations provided in each section, key recommendations for Mobility Authority and Transport Operators are spotlighted.
Highlights
Mobility demand is becoming increasingly flexible in terms of users’ segmentation and needs, transport mode, travel time
When the implementation phase moved from early adopters to a more mature status, it has been found that Public Authorities and Mobility Operators need to take the leadership of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) initiative as they are the main data provider
The COVID-19 affected the possibility to carry out an extended and deeper test of the platform and Agency functionalities both from the specific residents’ groups and by the different tourists available to leave the car at the hotel and to use the different mobility options integrated by the Public Transport (PT) services offered by the Shared Use Mobility Agency (SUMA)
Summary
Mobility demand is becoming increasingly flexible in terms of users’ segmentation and needs (both residents and tourists), transport mode, travel time. It is hard to provide Public Transport (PT) services that are strictly tailored to the mobility needs of the various user groups (including the tourists) as demonstrated by the low use rate of PT services. COVID-19 pandemic has added other trends affecting the demand: during the lockdown, mobility has been reduced to minimal activity and the prospects for recovery of user demand remain uncertain, with first data gathered in the Post-COVID period demonstrating a very slow growth This can result in an excessive financial burden on traditionally lower demand services. The COVID-19, has hugely impacted the transport sector with the risk of “new rise” of private car use provoking new needs and other different options at the level of tourist destinations like the following ones:.
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