In 2021 Moscow pilots mobility-on-demand
Transport-on-demand will be launched in Moscow. In the beginning of 2021 on the outskirts of Moscow transport-on-demand service will start operating as a pilot project — a passenger accesses the Moscow Transport app, chooses the nearest bus stop and a place of destination, orders the transport and pays for it. In less than 30 minutes a microbus arrives to the bus stop. It is a pilot project, and during the first year experts will observe its effects and results, and improve the service, basing upon passengers’ feedback.
The goal of the service is to increase transport accessibility in the remote residential areas of Moscow. In remote areas it is difficult to create a full surface transport network because of long distances between points of destination. The microbuses of the on-demand service are more adaptable to the local itineraries. If the system is successful during piloting, it will be launched in other residential areas.
The service for ordering personalized buses is integrated in the single mobile application Moscow Transport — the basis of the MaaS (Mobility-as-a-Service) system, the single resource for all means of transport. It is possible to build routes around Moscow in the app, choosing one means of public transport or combining several ones. For example, when the transport-on-demand service will be launched residents of a remote area, where the service is operating, will be able to order the ride on a low-capacity bus to the Kommunarka metro station and pay for it through the mobile app, then using the app they can build a route by metro, surface transport, car-sharing, scooter-sharing or intercity bus.
The single app for all modes of public transport allows to see all possibilities in one place: to build routes, pay transport fare, choose transport basing on needs, receive online information about the trip, traffic restrictions, road blockings and travel fares from different transport operators.
Now transport-on-demand is an idea. It is well-considered to become a pilot project, but, obviously, it will be improved based on the results. When the services will be in full operation mode, it will seamlessly blend in the city environment, provide residents of remote areas with scheduled transport network with other parts of the city and will abide by the law.