Scotland's HiTrans (Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership) has developed an app that provides information on buses, trains, taxis, car hire, car clubs, bicycle hire and ferries.
HiTrans says its Go-Hi app allows users to plan their journeys and find, book and pay for all modes of transport in one place using any iPhone or Android mobile device.
Go-Hi is powered by Fleetondemand’s Mobilleo Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform, which has been built with the capacity to deploy partner MaaS schemes.
Project partners include Enterprise Car Club and Car Hire, Brompton Bike Hire, Stagecoach Bus, ScotRail, Skedgo, Orkney Ferries and Northlink Ferries.
Highland councillor Allan Henderson, says the project addresses government ambitions to reduce carbon emissions by encouraging a modal shift from sole occupancy cars to shared cars and public transport alternatives.
“It will also help to create healthier lifestyles by improving the sustainable travel choices people can make in the region including active travel opportunities,” he adds.
HiTrans says a significant amount of data from a range of transport users has been gathered to enable Go-Hi to go live and more information will be added in the coming weeks and months.
Oz Choudhri, head of MaaS at Enterprise, says: “We have located 12 car club vehicles across seven locations as well as our three rent a car branches in the region to enable people to easily switch between different modes of transport.”
As part of the project, Fleetondemand is providing customer support and a data platform that offers access to management reporting information.
According to HiTrans, the participating transport providers will be able to access data about the demand for their services, helping them to better understand the needs of people in the region and to make more informed decisions about the provision of services.
The project is being funded by the EU North Sea Region Stronger Combined project and the Scottish Government’s MaaS Investment Fund.
Scotland's minister for transport Graeme Dey says: “The Scottish Government sees great potential in the future of Mobility as a Service and a real opportunity for Scotland to be at the forefront of developments. That’s why in 2018, our Programme for Government committed to establish the MaaS Investment Fund.”
“Much has changed since 2018, but as we think about the urgent need for a green recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, the potential of MaaS solutions in Scottish transport is perhaps more important than ever before,” he continues.
“MaaS applications can directly support our vision for a more sustainable transport system as outlined in our National Transport Strategy, in addition to the bold commitments we’ve made through our updated Climate Change Plan.”
The HiTrans board comprises councillors from each local authority area, including John Cowe (Moray Council), Graham Sinclair (Orkney Islands Council) and Robin Currie (Argyll and Bute Council) and a range of advisors.
