The potential of microtransit for regional commuting

Abstract

Shared on-demand mobility services, also known as microtransit, have become a major mobility provider around the world, yet this has predominantly taken place within urban areas. In areas with lower population density and poor quality public transport, such services could substantially improve accessibility. In early 2023, a regional microtransit pilot was carried out in the Ljubljana Urban Region in Slovenia. To assess the preferences towards such a service, a stated preference experiment is carried out among pilot participants, comparing car, public transport and microtransit for their daily commute. The obtained data is modelled using a Panel mixed logit model, with random parameters modelled as normally or log-normally distributed. Additionally, we also model for potential nesting effects among the alternatives. The results show participants perceive microtransit as a viable alternative, with public transport commuters finding it particularly attractive, whereas car commuters see it on par with the car. Parking price and a guaranteed parking spot tended to be key factors for decision-making. Simulating different policies, we conclude that combining subsidising microtransit and higher parking prices is the most effective strategy for achieving a modal shift primarily from car to microtransit while not affecting public transport as much.