Nov 25, 2019
Mobility as a Service as a new mobility model has the potential to significantly change the way of understanding mobility in the future. In the concept "Mobility as a Service made in Austria“ (MaaS miA) recommendations for the implementation of MaaS in Austria were developed.
The basic principle of MaaS is to link various transport services in order to achieve a comprehensive, integrated and service-oriented mobility service. This reduces the dependence on individual transport modalities, allowing users seamless and more flexible mobility. There are different levels of integration of MaaS that place different demands on the existing transport system and its actors. For example, it is necessary to distinguish between the linking of information (timetable information, price information) of different transport services and the linking of transport services themselves. In addition, the MaaS levels have different effects on the benefits for the users. These respective characteristics and effects are described by the so-called "readiness levels", which are listed in the MaaS miA concept. The definition of the levels serves the development of a common understanding for the implementation of MaaS in different integration levels.
Level 0 describes the status quo. There are no links between the information of individual transport providers. Users purchase their own tickets for the journey.
Level 1a describes a path chain-oriented linking of information from existing public mobility services. Timetable and fare information of the integrated public lines are visible. This means that users can plan a journey that is divided into several lines continuously. An example for this system is the platform qando. The ticket purchase has still to be done by the users at the individual transport providers.
In level 1b, information from private mobility offers is linked to information from public offers. For example, the locations of Car-Sharing service vehicles and the corresponding tariffs are visible. The purchase of tickets or usage rights for private services such as Car-Sharing is carried out by the users from the respective providers.
From Level 2, the booking and payment functions of the services are integrated into the MaaS system. MaaS providers are able to compile intermodal mobility offers from the available transport modalities. This makes it possible for users to book and pay for a mobility service from the starting point to the destination with one single ticket via the platform. The MaaS service providers bill the respective transport providers.
MaaS miA-Level 3 describes the step from offering of mobility to a comprehensive solution, including the controlling integration of social and environmental aspects. This level opens up new opportunities for the public sector to steer mobility. For example, new environmentally friendly mobility services can be offered at special conditions or special incentives can be created for the expansion of environmentally frinedly services.
