MAAS IN AMSTERDAM |
MaaS in the Netherlands
Seven different projects are being trialed around the country
1 From January 2020, an app providing
MaaS services will be available for a
trial period of two years with the goal
of improving access to the burgeoning
Zuidas district in Amsterdam.
2A similar app intending to stimulate
use of alternative modes of transport
to cars will also be introduced in the
Dutch region of Utrecht.
3In Eindhoven, in conjunction
with a number of employers
based in the city, a project is
already underway that aims to ensure
all business travel there is done
sustainably by 2025.
4The only province in the country
with borders to two other
nations, Limburg is addressing
multimodal possibilities in a crossborder
context with the intention of
simplifying public transport travel and
reducing car use in the process.
5 Accessible travel for less ablebodied
individuals is limited in
Twente so special attention
is being given to increasing MaaS
options for customized transport
042 Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020
where both public and private operators can
cooperate to meet customer demand, will help to
build these important relationships.”
Seamless travel
When it comes to connecting Amsterdam’s public
transport, the foundations are already in place. A
chip card can currently be used by travelers for
all public transport in the city – on trams, trains,
the metro and buses. This is making mobility
seamless for passengers, removing the frustration
of having to make separate payments when
switching between different forms of transport.
“If we want this new MaaS ecosystem to work
for everyone, we need to think beyond the city
and take into account those living in rural areas
too”, argues Alakteb. “They need it more than
ever as public transport services serving these
communities today are often infrequent and
unreliable. To achieve this, we should be turning
to shared mobility solutions, such as taxis and
ride-hailing, which will help to get people through
the first leg of their journey. With their widespread
availability, these shared solutions can serve as
that important initial link before the passenger
then connects to another mode of transport closer
to the city, such as a train or tram.”
In many ways, the taxi industry is leading the
way in bringing MaaS to the masses. Onboard
software is enabling local firms to share jobs and
reach customers quicker. Taking this approach,
Alakteb is confident that extending it more
widely would result in fewer wasted miles for
the driver and minutes for the customer.
It seems inevitable that the MaaS revolution
is on its way and with the roll out of the app in
Zuidas as well as the efforts of government and
business city-wide, there is every chance
Amsterdam will lead the way. It is appropriate
then that it is in the city that it is also the home of
Intertraffic where the systems and services can
experienced first hand. ■
6 With poor public transport options
in Groning-Drenthe, a new two-year
project intends to create affordable
mobility for travellers in the region
7 Traveling to Rotterdam from The
Hague Airport is currently only easily
done by car. A new project is seeking to
develop multimodal options.
We should be turning to shared mobility solutions,
such as taxis and ride-hailing, which will help to
get people through the first leg of their journey
Safa Alakteb, CEO, Autocab
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