The first milestone has been reached in the EU quest to make it easier for people to plan their travels using shared mobility options rather than the private owned car, by using multimodal travel information services.

December 1, 2019 all EU countries shall have opened a national access point for mobility data and populated it with open data from scheduled modes of mobility (mostly public transport) following the NeTEx standard. This completes the first of the three level of services included in the MMTIS regulation.

In service level 2 it is the demand responsive modes of mobility (DRT) actors who has to open their data in the NeTEx and SIRI format through the NAP’s. Demand responsive modes defined in the MMTIS regulation are: Shuttle bus, shuttle ferry, taxi, car-sharing, car-pooling, car hire, bike-sharing, and bike-hire. On top of this the MMTIS regulation adds other requirements to the mobility actors included in service level 2

 

Fig 1. Master plan derived from the MMTIS regulation (showing major elements only).

 

Mandatory static travel data categories part of service level 2:

 

(a) Location search (demand-responsive modes)

The location search open data shall allow multimodal travel information services to help end users to locate:

(i) Park & Ride stops (ii) Bike sharing stations (iii) Car-sharing stations (iv) Publicly accessible refueling stations for petrol, diesel, CNG/LNG, hydrogen powered vehicles, charging stations for electric vehicles (v) Secure bike parking (such as locked bike garages)

(b) Information service:

Information services include: Where and how to buy tickets for scheduled modes, demand responsive modes and car parking (all scheduled modes and demand-responsive incl. retail channels, fulfilment methods, payment methods)

Sample use case examples: Nearest taxi, car share, rental car, bike share? How and where can I get a ticket to any public transport in the EU? Where can I park my car and how do I pay?

(c) Trip plans, auxiliary information, availability check:

The open data includes: (i) Basic common standard fares (all scheduled modes): — Fare network data (fare zones/stops and fare stages) — Standard fare structures (point to point including daily and weekly fares, zonal fares, flat fares) (ii) Vehicle facilities such as classes of carriage, on-board Wi-Fi.

MMTIS agents can use the data to present a single price for a multimodal journey and compare with alternative travel plans based on up to date and valid prices for all scheduled modes of transport (public and private actors alike)

 

Dynamic travel and traffic data recommended by the MMTIS regulation in service level 2

 

(a) Passing times, trip plans and auxiliary information (all modes): (i) Estimated departure and arrival times of services (ii) Current road link travel times (iii) Cycling network closures/diversions

The dynamic data familiar to GPS end users is extended to all modes of transport. Note also the focus on cycling network disruptions.

(b) Information service: Availability of publicly accessible charging stations for electric vehicles and refueling points for CNG/LNG, hydrogen, petrol and diesel powered vehicles

This information will be helpful for any navigation supplier to deliver a total up to date picture of charging and refueling points. Over the next years there is bound to be an increase in charging points for sustainable energy forms and a reduction of outlets for petrol and diesel as demand goes down.

(c) Availability check: (i) Car-sharing availability, bike sharing availability (ii) Car parking spaces available (on and off-street), parking tariffs, road toll tariffs

Up to the minute and reliable availability data for car and bike sharing is an importing factor in relying on shared mobility services. Whether you drive in a shared or your own car, availability of a car parking spot at your destination is the only way you can get out of your car again.

Up to date road toll tariffs as part of planning and navigation for a journey can help in the decision process for alternative cheaper modes of transport. Also helpful to ensure that you have the accepted payments means handy en route.

 

Plan and discussion:

 

Open mobility data, following service level 2 of the MMTIS regulation, shall be published and made available through the NAP by all mobility actors in scope no later than December 1, 2020.

The service level 2 mostly involves investments of time and money by private mobility actors. Living up to EU regulation is mandatory, however the MMTIS regulation is not yet widely known in the industry.

 

The Goals and perspectives derived from the MMTIS regulation 

 

Campaigning the purpose of the regulation and the applicable standards and profiles is necessary. Especially some good answers to “what’s in it for me”?” type of questions.

How do all the private actors for demand responsive modes of transport get access to qualified assistance and funding to make the data available? The complexity of complying with the MMTIS regulation is not trivial, and of somewhat same magnitude as the GDPR compliance exercise.

The open mobility data in the 28+ NAPS opens a completely new scene for multimodal travel information services. Stimulating startups utilizing MMTIS open mobility data and publish early succes stories should be prioritized on a national and EU level.

Looking forward to see the walled gardens of mobility data be transformed to a big green field of open mobility data making it easier to make smart and sustainable choices of travel plans. Cant wait to get hands on a multimodal “GPS” to help me navigating from door to door independent of means of transport modes.

 

More on the impact of the MMTIS NAP regulation?

For independent advice and consulting on the MMTIS regulation, what it takes to comply or inspiration to how to make use of the open data feel free to contact me anytime on sos@sfmcon.com.

Also check out my other posts on MMTIS in my blog.

See the MMTIS regulation text here.