Abstract Summary
Automated minibuses (AM) are currently deployed in various cities in Europe to assess their potential in the transition toward a more sustainable mobility system. To increase its potential, this technical product innovation has to be aligned to social transformations, such as altering attitudes towards mobility. In this paper we focus on understanding these mobility attitudes. The study follows a multi-method approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods in several steps. To assess the attitudes towards AM and mobility in general, a quantitative survey among 1.816 potential users of four cities that host pilot sites of the AVENUE project was conducted. Mobility needs were further assessed with in-depth, qualitative interviews of 20 potential users. The system requirements of AM users were evaluated through a survey among 70 users in one of these pilot sites and qualitative interviews with 8 safety drivers. The results show that flexibility, both temporal and local, and travel-time are prime mobility needs of potential users. To fulfil these needs, AM should operate as an on-demand, door-to-door service. In this case (latent) mobility needs can be activated and pull the use of AM. Reducing risk is of lesser importance, as the overall attitude toward AM is positive. The results furthermore show that more than 50% of the car drivers are ‘willing’ or ‘very willing’ to give-up using their own car to use AM in an integrated system. Therefore, AM have the potential to become a real game changer for urban mobility, if integrated as an on-demand door-to-door service in a public transport or MaaS system resulting in a system innovation. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 769033
