{"id":3918,"date":"2024-12-19T18:39:48","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T17:39:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/datamobility.it\/magazine\/i-have-a-dream\/"},"modified":"2025-12-03T11:55:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T10:55:49","slug":"i-have-a-dream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/datamobility.it\/en\/magazine\/i-have-a-dream\/","title":{"rendered":"I have a dream<\/strong>


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GO-Mobility<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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I have a dream<\/strong><\/h1>\n

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Shaping the future of on-demand mobility with the DREAM_PACE project<\/p>\n

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People\u2019s mobility evolves as society changes. Transformations within the labour market<\/strong> and habits led to increasingly irregular travel patterns, with fewer fixed schedules or standard commuting chains. Technology<\/strong> is reshaping the way we access mobility services, and it is creating new ones. Meanwhile, the automotive industry is shifting toward fossil-free fuels<\/strong> and alternative ownership models (but not very smoothly<\/a>). At the same time, the urbanization process continues to drain marginal areas (such as mountain communities or small villages), fueling low-density urban sprawl<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This is where flexible, on-demand transport<\/strong> comes in: a system capable of adapting to people\u2019s changing mobility needs, tailored to diverse territories through technology<\/strong> and the power of data<\/strong>. That\u2019s why GO-Mobility was selected as a technical partner by Bologna\u2019s metropolitan public transport agency (SRM<\/a>) to support the Interreg DREAM_PACE project: a program that integrates #DRT and public transport within a #MaaS approach.<\/p>\n

The dream of flexible (but also reliable) public transport<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

What is on-demand public transport? Also known as Demand Responsive Transport (DRT), on-demand mobility is based on flexible, dynamic systems that connect passenger requests with available vehicles in real time<\/strong> via digital platforms. Unlike fixed-schedule bus lines, DRT enables dynamically generated routes based on actual user needs. This means no more rigid schedules, but adaptive transport<\/strong> that responds personally to local demand.<\/p>\n

DRT is especially strategic for low-demand areas <\/strong>\u2014 rural zones, small towns, or outer suburbs \u2014 where low population density and erratic mobility habits makes traditional transport economically unsustainable<\/strong>. On-demand services can guarantee access to schools, hospitals, and workplaces, reducing social isolation and revitalizing depopulating areas. These services also minimize the waste of resources by avoiding empty buses and saving fuel, using smaller vehicles, such as minibuses, instead of full-size buses, which are often unsuitable for the actual demand levels in these areas.<\/p>\n

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DRT is also ideal for nighttime transport<\/strong>: it ensures access to less-served zones when standard lines are inactive, offering reliability and flexibility even when the mobility demand is lower and unpredictable<\/strong>. Workers on night shifts or those with occasional travel needs can benefit from pre-bookable services, safer <\/strong>journeys, and direct routes\u2014particularly relevant for vulnerable groups<\/strong> like women, youth, or those with reduced mobility.<\/p>\n

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Modern DRT systems adapt service frequency and coverage to real-time demand, improving efficiency<\/strong> and reducing operating costs<\/strong>. They provide a real alternative to private cars in areas where public transit is rare, helping cut emissions and improve urban quality of life<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Oh no\u2026 not again <\/u><\/strong>\ud83d\udea8<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Despite its potential, DRT is often misunderstood. Many associate it with the elimination of traditional lines and complicated services<\/strong> doomed to fail. But today\u2019s context is different. With the rise of digital literacy<\/strong>, data availability<\/strong>, and better management tools<\/strong>, DRT is finally ready to succeed.<\/p>\n

Thanks to booking apps and geolocation, users can now book rides in real time or in advance. Routing, scheduling, and passenger flows can be optimized<\/strong> with intelligent systems that align public needs with operational planning.<\/p>\n

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Together with MaaS <\/strong>\u2013 the integration of various mobility services into a single platform that treats \u201cMobility As A Service\u201d \u2013 DRT perfectly embodies the core of major technological innovations (“disruptive mobility<\/strong>“) expected to drive the future of transport, especially when combined: electrification, sharing, and autonomous driving.<\/p>\n

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In the episode \u2018Hang the DJ\u2019 of the Black Mirror series, we see characters from a hypothetical future comfortably moving around in shared, self-driving electric vehicles based on a app booking system. No parking dilemmas, delayed buses or walking miles.<\/p>\n

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The mechanism that ensures this triangulation works<\/strong> and delivers the expected results\u2014namely a competitive, long-lasting, and economically sustainable service\u2014depends on key factors such as the integration<\/strong> of these services into the public transport<\/strong> system (rather than remaining standalone solutions), and the collection and exchange of data<\/strong> among the various actors involved (mobility operators, public authorities, MaaS providers). This is where DREAM_PACE comes into play \u27a1\ufe0f<\/p>\n

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What is DREAM_PACE?<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

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DREAM_PACE stands for Demand REsponsive trAnsport integrating regional Mobility networks for PAssengers in Central Europe. It is an Interreg Central Europe programme<\/strong> project aimed at improving accessibility and connectivity in low-demand areas by integrating public transport services with on-demand mobility solutions within a MaaS framework.<\/p>\n

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The project addresses several specific challenges by focusing on the strategic mobility planning of six metropolitan areas in Central Europe, each with different focuses:<\/p>\n

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