Abstract
The problems and potential of several demand responsive transportation (DRT) modes are examined in this paper. The analysis provides suggested recommendations to decision makers, as well as policy analysts and transportation planners. Included in the definition of DRT are the auto, taxi, rent-a-car, jitney, dial-a-bus, car pool, and subscription bus.
The main conclusions are: (1) Decision makers should not focus on taxis, rent-a-car, jitney, dial-a-bus, car pool, or subscription bus to reduce congestion and pollution without disincentives to auto use. (2) Jitneys can help the transit poor, and jitney development by the private sector should be encouraged, particularly along routes currently overloading public transit where resistance from transit operators is likely to be the least. Or, jitneys might be encouraged to feed public transit, if this proves politically feasible. (3) Since the greatest potential of dial-a-ride is in helping the poor and elderly rather than reducing congestion, decision makers should consider providing vouchers to the poor and elderly for use on taxis before considering the public provision of an entire dial-a-ride system. (4) Local decision makers, as well as state agencies supporting local demand responsive transportation, should support efforts to increase the supply of taxis. Recognizing the political difficulties involved in increasing the supply, compromise solutions aimed at encouraging incentives for competition, such as leased cabs, should also be encouraged.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arrillaga, Bert, and Medville, D. (1974). “Demand, supply and cost modeling frameworks for demand responsive transportation systems,” Transportation Research Board Special Report 147.
Arrillaga, B., and Mouchahoir, G. (1974). Demand Responsive Transportation System Planning Guidelines. Mitre Corporation.
Beimborn, E. A. (1969). “Characteristics of taxicab usage,” Highway Research Record 283.
Bendixon, R. (1973). “Self-drive mini hire-cars proposed for Amsterdam.” Transportation 2.
Bhatt, Kiran (1974). “Subscription Buses and Car Pools,” in Kirby, et al., Para-Transit: Neglected Options for Urban Mobility. U.S. Department of Transportation.
Bhatt, Kiran, and Kemp, Michael (1974). “Dial-A-Ride Services,” in Kirby, et al., Para-Transit: Neglected Options for Urban Mobility. U.S. Department of Transportation.
Bonsall, John (1971). Dial-a-bus — The Bay Ridges Experiment. Ontario: Department of Transportation and Communications.
Bonsall, John (1973). “Dial-a-bus experiment in Bay Ridges,” Highway Research Board Report 136.
Crain and Associates (1974). Para-Transit Service Need Study. For Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
Curry, D. A., and McGillivray, R. (1971). Urban Transit Regulation and Planning in the San Francisco Bay Area. Stanford Research Institute.
DAVE Systems (1973). Summary of the First Year of Operation, 1973. For La Habra Dial-A-Ride, La Habra, California.
Eckert, Ross, and Hilton, George (1972). “The jitneys,” The Journal of Law and Economics 15: 293–325.
Golob, Thanos, and Gustafson, Richard (1972). A Case Study of the Economic Feasibility of a Demand Responsive Transportation. GM Research Laboratories GM-1 150.
Gray, George; Watkins, Robert; and Kirchner, Fred (1973). Can Vehicle Travel Be Reduced 20% in the South Coast Air Basin? California Department of Public Works, pp. 41–42.
Harris, E. E. (1963). A Report on Area Taxis. Pittsburgh Area Transportation Study.
Heathington, K. W.; Davis, F. W.; Middendorf, D. P.; and Brogan, J. D. (1974). An Example of Demand Responsive Systems in the Private Sector. Transportation Research Center, The University of Tennessee, January,
International Taxicab Association (1974). “West Virginia first with transportation stamps.” Taxi Cab Management 22 (8): 27.
Kain, J., and Meyer, J. (1970). “Transportation and poverty,” The Public Interest 18.
Kemp, Michael (1974a). “Jitney Service,” in Kirby, et al., Para-Transit: Neglected Options for Urban Mobility. U.S. Department of Transportation.
Kemp, Michael (1974b). “Taxi Gab Service,” in Kirby, et al., Para-Transit: Neglected Options for Urban Mobility. U.S. Department of Transportation.
Kirby, Ronald; Bhatt, Kiran; Kemp, Michael; McGillivray, Robert; Wohl, Martin (1974). Para-Transit: Neglected Options for Urban Mobility. U.S. Department of Transportation.
Kitch, E.; Isaacson, M.; and Kasper, D. (1972). The Regulation of Taxicabs in Chicago. The Brookings Institute.
L'Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal (1973). “Dial-a-bus: guidelines for design and implementation,” Demand Responsive Transportation Systems, Special Report 136. Highway Research Board.
Lee, B.; Fallcocchio, J. C.; and Cantelli, E. J. (1972). “Taxi usage in New York City poverty areas,rd Highway Research Record 403.
Los Angeles Public Utilities and Transportation Department Staff (1974). Report on the Proposed Taxi Cab Master Plan. Los Angeles, California, Jaunary 30.
Mannen, Frank (1974). El Cajon Express. Office of the City Manager, June 18.
Marbury, D. (1972). “Uncle Dede is a jitney driver,” QED Renaissance 3 (5): 37–39. Pittsburgh Metropolitan Broadcasting.
Mass Transportation Demonstration Projects (1968). University of Illinois, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Illinois. Numbers 3,4.
McGillivray, R. G., and Kemp, Michael (1974). “Daily and Short-Term Rental Cars,” in Kirby, et al., Para-Transit: Neglected Options for Urban Mobility. U.S. Department of Transportation.
Medville, Douglas (1973). A Conceptual Overview of Demand Responsive Transportation Systems. Mitre Corporation, February.
Mikolowsky, W. T.; Gebman, J. R.; Stanley, W. L.; and Burkholz, G. M. (1974). The Regional Impacts of Near-Term Transportation Alternatives: A Case Study of Los Angeles. RAND of Santa Monica, June.
Morin, D. A.: Lindsay, L. C.: and Riemer, R. (1972). “A Report on the Reston Bus Passenger Survey.” Unpublished mimeograph, United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.
Roos, Daniel (1972). “Operational experience with demand responsive transportation,” Highway Research Record 397.
Rosenbloom, Sandi (1968). “Characteristics of taxicab supply and demand in selected metropolitan areas,” Systems Analysis of Urban Transportation. General Research Corporation, Santa Barbara, January.
Rosenbloom, Sandi (1972). “Taxis and Jitneys — the case for deregulation,” Reason 3 (11).
Samuels, R. E. (1971). “Samuels reviews taxicab industry regulations,” Taxicab Management 19.
Samuels, R. E. (1972). “Samuels reviews taxicab industry regulations,” Taxicab Management 20.
Solomon, R. J., and Saltzman, A. (1971). History of Transit and Innovative Systems. Report USL TR-70-20, MIT Urban Systems Laboratory.
United States Transportation Research Board (1974). Special Report 147. Panel discussion by Wallace Atkinson.
Wells, John; Asher, Norman; Flavers, Karilyn; Kamrass, Murray; Nelson, Gary; Selwer, Fred; Thomas, Sharron (1972). Economic Characteristics of the Urban Public Transportation Industry. U.S. Institute for Defense Analysis.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Higgins, T. Demand responsive transportation: An interpretive review. Transportation 5, 243–256 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00148378
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00148378