The role of On-Demand Transit in a Just Future Public Mobility (JustFuture)

Sustainable mobility is intrinsically linked to the concept of spatial justice, which refers to the equitable distribution of
resources, services, and access often considered a basic human right. Transport justice is a vital component of spatial justice
focusing on the design and development of equitable transport systems. To attain sustainable mobility and transport justice,
intensive work on new and innovative mobility solutions is ongoing worldwide. On-demand transit has shown great promise
for improving the level of flexibility and accessibility in public transport. On-demand solutions are today seen as a key
component of future public mobility, were digital applications and seamless digital interfaces contribute to new opportunities
for providing on-demand transit. Research, however, argues that there is often a lack of evaluation and follow-up of different
initiatives and mobility solutions that have been conducted in different contexts. While on-demand transit is proven to
significantly increase transit accessibility, its impact on transit equity and equality has not been addressed or approaches that
examine potential social and spatial inequalities, or involving the persons concerned and considering actual needs and
preferences. The objective of JustFuture is to examine, compare, and learn from two On-Demand Transit solutions deployed
in different urban and rural contexts in two continents; MARTA Reach in Atlanta and Plusresa in the region of Skåne in
southern Sweden. The aim is to explore the role of on-demand transit in different contexts and assess its future possibilities for
public mobility with a special focus on issues of transport equity and equality.