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Table 3 The economic viability of different mobility solutions when compared to private car or tourist rental car
From: In search of sustainable and inclusive mobility solutions for rural areas
| Â | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
Conventional public transport | + low user costs compared to private car when travelling alone | − no cost reduction per person when travelling with several people (scale effect from car use) − if cost is perceived as high, barrier to use − major funding needed from local/national authorities |
Designated tourist buses | + minor funding needed from local/national authorities | − typically, needs a higher contribution from the user − coach travellers don’t spend much time and money on local products and services |
Semi-flexible DRT | + the larger the implementation scale, the lower the cost | − if user costs are perceived high, a car is preferred − higher cost of the system compared to traditional public transport due to flexibility − major funding needed from local/national authorities − costs should be divided between different stakeholders |
Flexible door-to-door DRT | + the larger the implementation scale, the lower the cost | − typically, needs a higher contribution from the user − higher costs of the system compared to traditional public transport due to flexibility − major funding needed from local/national authorities |
Car-sharing and ride-sharing | + minor funding needed from local/national authorities | − high expectations for the service, but low willingness-to-pay − difficult to ensure a sustainable business model − very dependent on matchmaking quality and ensuring a sufficient number of cars |