By Yixue Zhang, Steven Farber, and Mischa Young
University of Toronto
May 2020
An independent research team from the University of Toronto examined the City of Belleville’s innovative on-demand transit (ODT) pilot program, which aims to provide flexible night-time bus services by optimizing routes based on real-time rider requests accessible through a mobile app, online booking, or telephone (during business hours).
One year into its operation, however, this first-of-its-kind technology has failed to collect data on rider profiles, trip purposes, or the service’s impact on quality of life.
To address this gap, the investigators conducted interviews and surveys with pilot users. Their findings shed light on the rider experiences, satisfaction, and the social benefits of the ODT service, offering valuable insights for decision-makers considering the adoption of similar on-demand transit technologies.
