BENCHMARKS FOR THE CURRENT PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS
During the seminar on September 6, 2018, entitled BENCHMARKS FOR THE CURRENT PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS – CONCLUSIONS, the proposed model features of public transport in the analysed regions, identified and presented in the report in section - SELECTED EXAMPLES OF BEST PRACTICES ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS - were elaborated and discussed.
The presentation entitled “Benefits and challenges of public transport integration” specified the historical overview and integrated public transport implementation stages in the Rostock region as well as the related currently applied solutions and best practices. Moreover, the advantages of integrated public transport were discussed, such as:
•Reflection of customers’ needs
•Effective transportation
•Cost efficient
•Environmentally friendly
•Capacity to achieve greater productivity and economy as well as challenges we need to face at the integration of public transport, including legal, technological and economic challenges.
The presentation entitled „Use of alternative fuels to power the fleet of public transport vehicles” indicated the TCO differences (total cost of ownership) among city buses powered by biogas, diesel, electric energy (opportunity and depot charging + HVO) and HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil). The second part of the presentation specified various activities, currently undertaken in Blekinge and planned for the future, aiming at integrated public transport development, such as:
•Priority for public transport
•Priority for electric cars and bikes
•Renewable fuels in all buses and trains
•Change in parking policies
•Priority for public transport in spatial planning
The presentation entitled “Public procurement and competition between carriers as a tool for shaping effective public transport” analysed the process of introducing competition between public transport operators in Klaipeda. Moreover, the advantages of such solution were also presented, such as:
• True competition
• Raising the quality of standards and services
• Best price on the market
• Increasing number of passengers
• Appropriate instrument for shaping effective public transport
The presentation entitled “Marketing research as an instrument for shaping the public transport services in accordance with the preferences and expectations of users” indicated the objectives of marketing research for the purpose of public transport, including:
• Aligning PT services with user expectations and preferences.
• Offering competitive alternative travel offer for car users.
• Avoiding pitfalls originating in decision maker errors.
• Effective sustainable mobility policy implementation.
Moreover, the recommended scope of marketing research in public transport was presented, namely:
•Research on transport needs, demand and its structure – used in decisions making process regarding changes in timetables and calculating the amount of budget
subsidies for public transport services.
•Research on travel preferences and behaviour of residents, passengers or selected groups – used in decision making process regarding the parameters of public transport
services.
The presentation entitled “Free public transport in Tallinn and Estonia” specified the free public transport implementation process in Tallinn and the related prerequisites.
Social aspects:
• Guaranteeing mobility to all residents
Economic aspects:
• Increasing labour mobility within the city limits
• Stimulating consumption of local goods and services
Green aspects:
• Modal shift from cars to PT
The presentation also indicated the effects of such mobility within the city, including:
• Number of PT trips up by 10%
• Decrease in car traffic in city centre down by 6%
• But increase around city centre by 4%
Furthermore, the process of implementing free public transport in the whole country was presented, which made Estonia „the first Free Public Transport nation”. It was highlighted that before the implementation of free public transport the level of its subsidies totalled 70%, which means that only 30% of costs generated by public transport was incurred directly by the passengers.