Asked to describe transportation in rural areas, you might picture a rancher kicking up the dust of a long country road with a pickup truck or a farmer using a tractor to harvest acres of crops. However, today’s «rural» mobility challenges extend far beyond pasture lands. People in all types of communities―ranging from small towns, remote villages, and exurbs on the edge of large metropolitan areas―are spread across many miles, with limited options to reach workplaces, medical facilities, or grocery stores.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is working to bridge the mobility divide in areas with low population densities and little in the way of public transit. On-demand transit (ODT) solutions established by local governments are making it possible for more residents to affordably and conveniently get to jobs, appointments, and more.
«As on-demand options have been rolled out in more communities, it’s becoming clear that they can effectively meet the needs of underserved populations in a range of settings,» said NREL Rural Mobility Project Lead and Transportation Behavior Analyst Andy Duvall. «This increased mobility has made a dramatic difference in the lives of people at both ends of the age spectrum, who are either too young or too old to drive themselves safely.»
Similar to Uber and Lyft, these ODT systems combine ride-hailing software with point-to-point ride services to offer lower operating costs and more flexible services than those found with more traditional transit systems with fixed schedules and routes. ODT rides can be hailed through smartphone apps, websites, or by phone, and payment can be made with cash or by debit, credit, or reloadable smart cards. This allows even individuals without cell phones or bank accounts to take advantage of services.
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