Table 2 The advantages and disadvantages of different mobility solutions for permanent and temporary residents in rural areas
From: In search of sustainable and inclusive mobility solutions for rural areas
| Permanent residents | Temporary residents | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advantages | Disadvantages | Advantages | Disadvantages | |
| Conventional public transport | + fixed stops and routes are easy to understand |
− no flexibility in routing, stops, or scheduling − typically, low frequency − typically, long travel time − typically, stops are not close to all users − not convenient for people with poor health (physical effort required) − scheduling cannot consider all user groups and purposes (commuting, healthcare, groceries, etc.) |
+ fixed stops and routes are easy to understand + good opportunities to communicate with locals |
− no flexibility in routing, stops, or scheduling − routes and stops not designed according to tourist needs − typically, long travel time − ticket information might not be well available for tourists |
| Designated tourist buses | − cannot be used by local residents |
+ on−demand service + optimal travel and short waiting time + price might remain unnoticed in a full cost model |
− not adaptive to individual interests − fixed times, limited frequency − fixed routes, no flexibility − no opportunities to communicate with locals − limited opportunities to spend time and money on local services | |
| Semi-flexible DRT |
+ shorter travel time + additional connections to stops or areas assigned according to local residents needs + flexibility depends on specific DRT solution, can be provided on different levels + cost not very high |
− availability depends on predefined service area − smaller vehicles may not cover the demand |
+ higher frequency than traditional public transport + shorter travel time + flexibility depends on specific DRT solution, can be provided on different levels + good opportunities to communicate with locals + cost not very high + can be organised to be in line with second-home owners’ destinations |
− availability depends on predefined service area − only semi-flexible travel planning possibilities − smaller vehicles may not cover the demand − ticket information might not be well available for tourists |
| Flexible door-to-door DRT |
+ as frequent as necessary + short travel time + possibility to wait at the origin point + very flexible + preferred by groups who prefer one-seat trips |
− depends on the availability of vehicles − may become more expensive |
+ as frequent as necessary + short travel time + possibility to wait at the origin point + very flexible + can be organised to be in line with second-home owners’ destinations |
− depends on the availability of vehicles − may become more expensive − ticket information might not be well available for tourists |
| Car-sharing |
+ as frequent as necessary + possibility to arrange own trip + short travel time + privacy + very flexible + typically, not very high costs |
− depends on the availability of cars (which usually is a challenge) − in destination, might be issues with parking |
+ as frequent as necessary + possibility to arrange own trip + short travel time + privacy + very flexible + typically, not very high cost |
− depends on the availability of cars − in destination, might be issues with parking − information about the cost and availability of cars is not easy to find for tourists (usually, in the local language) |
| Ride-sharing |
+ short travel time + flexible, if supply and demand are balanced (which usually is a challenge) + typically, not very high cost |
− availability depends on similar travel routes − safety issues with an unknown driver |
+ short travel time + flexible, if supply and demand are balanced (which usually is a challenge) + possibility to get to know local people + typically, not very high cost |
− availability depends on similar travel routes − difficult to match the needs of different user groups − information about the cost and availability of cars is not easy to find for tourists (usually, in the local language) − fee system might be set up in a way not suitable for tourists (platform fee) |