Towards an optimal multimodal travel planner—Lessons from the European experience

Abstract

The recent drive by the European Union aimed at qualitative change in transport system is to be achieved mainly by introduction of ICT solutions. One of the tools which are based on ICT are electronic travel planners. In Europe there are currently hundreds of travel planners but mostly local ones. The truly multimodal travel planners are rarity. It seems that development of successful and fully functional travel planner is a difficult task. In the paper the research into the European experience with developing optimal travel planners has been conducted. The regulatory framework for introduction of travel planners into transport systems is being discussed. Subsequently the key barriers for introduction of multimodal planners are identified and framework for assessment of multimodal travel planner usability is proposed. Finally selected number of European travel planners are subjected to assessment under proposed framework leading to conclusions on features of optimal multimodal travel planner.