Zurich: ViaVan launches evening on-demand service in public transport

With the on-demand service Pikmi, an 18-month pilot project has started as part of Zurich’s public transportation. The Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich (VBZ) are testing a demand-driven public transport service in the city for the first time in collaboration with Daimler joint-venture partner and on-demand specialist ViaVan. The minibuses are in operation every evening from 8 PM to midnight, aiming to fill gaps in traditional public transportation. The service within the operational area is expected to provide new connections and short paths to public transport. Bookings are made via the associated app. The evening bus is fully integrated into the public transportation zone tariff, so passengers do not have to purchase an additional ticket for the ride, the provider further advertises. The VBZ want to respond to changing usage patterns with this more flexible concept and provide a customer-friendly offer. The pilot operation is also intended to show to what extent public transportation can be operated more efficiently with new approaches.

"It has become clear, especially since the outbreak of COVID-19, that innovative ideas are needed to respond to new challenges. It is therefore important to test new technologies in operation," says city councilor Michael Baumer, head of the Industrial Works of the City of Zurich. He also sees the pilot project as a further step towards a "Smart City."

A ride is booked via the app developed by ViaVan, which shows the estimated waiting time until pickup and the walking route to the nearest stop. The technology bundles booking requests with a similar travel direction in one vehicle and calculates the most efficient route in real time. With each ride, there is the possibility that the route will be slightly adjusted and additional passengers will board, as explained by the on-demand mobility specialist. Since the minibuses are shared, the national health concept for public transport under COVID-19 applies, which means mandatory masks. Additionally, a maximum of three of the five seats are used.

"Flexible shared mobility solutions like Pikmi can extend access to public transport and thus create a long-term alternative to individual transport," believes ViaVan CEO Chris Snyder.

The algorithm enables fast and efficient shared rides, avoiding unnecessary detours and long waiting times, while also reducing congestion and emissions. The provider already collaborates with several public transport operators and cities in Europe - for example with BVG in Berlin and EMT in Madrid, now for the first time also in Switzerland. 

Additional stops and new connections

Unlike regular public transport, Pikmi does not operate on predefined routes or according to a fixed timetable. In addition to the existing VBZ stops in the operational area, about 150 additional stopping points for the vehicles have been defined, virtual stops without additional infrastructure. "Thanks to the dense network of stops, the next Pikmi stop is right around the corner for our customers," promises VBZ director Guido Schoch. The VBZ wants to find out whether this innovative offer can attract additional customers, Schoch continues. For using Pikmi, passengers need a ticket for the city of Zurich (zone 110) or a corresponding subscription. This creates a very attractive connection to the existing main axes of public transport. 

Painstaking analysis of rides

While the vehicles are in use for Mobility during the day, they operate for Pikmi between 8 PM and midnight. "We want to use our car-sharing vehicles as efficiently as possible. Since booking frequencies for Mobility are lower at night, a mixed operation makes sense," explains Mobility managing director Roland Lötscher. Additionally, on-demand mobility is on the rise.

"Especially younger people want mobility at the push of a button. The project allows us to learn more in this area too," believes Lötscher. 

Since the minibuses will be integrated into the fleet of Pikmi vehicle partner Mobility after the pilot project is completed, they are not equipped for wheelchair transport due to the limited usage time. The VBZ are working here with the Foundation for Disabled Transport Zurich (BTZ). Additionally, passengers without a smartphone can book their rides by phone through customer service. During the project, operational parameters can be adjusted to respond to insights from ongoing operations. In the evaluation, VBZ is collaborating with the Institute for Transport Planning and Systems at ETH Zurich.