The Demand Responsive Transport Services: Italian Approach

Direct-dial services are an excellent connection between traditional forms of collective and private transport. They are the answer to development of transport demand for homogeneous travel, non-homogeneous travel, and to the growing need for travel from specific consumer classes such as the elderly and the disabled. Four separate operative levels may be identified for demand responsive transport services: 1) fixed itineraries and stops with possibility of access through booking; 2) fixed itineraries with possibility of detours within specific boundaries; 3) service with free routes between fixed points; and 4) service with free routes between free points. This paper describes the aforementioned transport systems and analyzes their efficacy, productivity, and consumer ratings using some case examples from Florence and Genoa, Italy.