On-demand buses for events and conventions

Catalan Mobility Day is organized annually by the Association of Municipalities for Urban Mobility and Transport (AMTU). Renowned national and international experts meet to discuss the latest technological developments in mobility infrastructures and transport services.

Each edition is held in a different city in Catalonia. This year the convention was held in Reus, some 15 km from Tarragona. Paradoxically, and despite the fact that the event focuses on mobility in business parks and companies, there is no high-frequency public transport connection with the convention center. From Tarragona, attendees have to travel for at least one hour using a combination of train, bus and walking. Those staying in central Reus have to do almost half of the trip on foot. And for those arriving at the local high-speed train station, there isn’t even a direct public transport connection.

To address this, as a speaker at the event and in cooperation with bus operator Reus Transport, Shotl offered a free Demand Responsive Transportation (DRT) service for all attendees. During the event, a vehicle connected Reus commuter train station, the city center, and the main hotels with the convention center.

Trips were completely free and offered during two time slots: Mornings from 8:00-10:00 and afternoons from 13:00-16:00, thus covering the transport needs of attendees. Users only had to download the app on their mobile devices to request a pick-up at any of the virtual stops. Prior to Catalan Mobility Day, the AMTU communicated to all attendees that they would be able to use and test the DRT service on the day of the event.

The attendees’ experience was very positive. They described the service as an optimal alternative to the car for short trips, and the transport operator gained valuable learnings about DRT and is already considering implementing it in other nearby locations. With this innovative solution, event attendees no longer have to use private vehicles or make multiple public transport connections to access the convention center.

Cities holding events attract a large number of people from all over the world. Whether they’re held in an urban environment or convention centers located in business and service parks, they often lack an efficient transport solution to absorb the peak demand that major events bring.

We firmly believe that transport solutions must be able to meet the required demand at any time, and guarantee equitable, accessible, and fair mobility for all.