The challenge: Develop an uber-like solution for transportation options for residents with disabilities.
Description of the problem
The municipality of The Hague facilitates and finances various types of transport for people who cannot or are insufficiently able to travel by public transport independently. Currently, residents are not enough aware of the different transportation possibilities. This has the following consequences:
Efficiency: Different types of transportation (i.e. transport flows) exist and are not coordinated. They are not being used to their full potential. As a result, some carriers drive similar routes at the same time, or do not make efficient use of their capacity. Due to a lack of overview, it is difficult to efficiently plan sequential trips.
Quality: Due to the fragmentation, transportation is also vulnerable. The quality is often under pressure during peak hours. The carrier cannot properly accommodate the number of vehicles and drivers needed ad hoc, leading to late pickups, or having to travel via insufficient and long routes for the customer (inefficient planning of routes). In the worst case, sometimes customers are not picked up at all. We want to solve these problems and provide customers with more alternative choices and better services.
Insight: Information about each type of transport provider is available separately, but there is no real time information available about all transportation flows on one system. As a result, it is difficult to make adjustments. As the municipality of The Hague acts as a client for these transport providers, it would be desirable to combine all information into one system for policy making in the long term.
Traffic and environment: As trips are currently not efficient, there is room for improvement through a change in amount of transport offered, continuity of speed/travel and reducing in traffic jams. This is good for the environment and fits the city’s policy of making The Hague an accessible city (also in the future).
Financial: Providing better insight into transportation flows will result in more efficient use of capacity for the transport provider (cars, drivers, transportation planners) as well as financial profit for the municipality.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for a solution with at least the following features:
Possible further developments:
What are we not looking for?
We are not looking for a solution that focuses on changing the type of transportation used by current travelers. Think of Go-OV. We are not looking for substitutes for public transport (i.e. other providers). These providers are already purchased by the municipality and in use.
Background information
Some examples for inspiration:
The municipality of The Hague has a wide range of transport options. For example, transport that has been put out to tendered to a specific provider.
Informal types of transport that do not require a medical indication. In these cases there is only a short interview beforehand. This type of transport is offered by volunteers or welfare organizations:
Transport that only in a specific area:
Transport offered by local entrepreneurs:
Overall, many different types of transport exist, all with their own characteristics, prices and timetables.