An experiment has been undertaken in Birmingham to assess how accessible taxis may be used to improve the scheduling efficiency of dial-a-ride services. Demand responsive accessible services such as dial-a-rides need to make most effective use of resources to provide the maximum number of trips whilst still meeting the objectives for which the service is provided. In services routed according to passenger requests received, certain trips can prevent the build up of more efficient schedules. A particular concern is to strike a balance between the interests of passengers with regular demands for popular destinations and those passengers whose trips do not create opportunities for high passenger loadings. The paper describes: 1. measurement and analysis of efficiencies observed and their implications; 2.indications of the wider contribution accessible taxis can make to providing accessible transport, and 3. longer term considerations in determining a mix of accessible transport.
Samenvatting