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Demand Responsive Transport: Connecting People and Places
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A one day conference, 19 November 2008
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Edinburgh, Venue TBC
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Keynote Speakers: |
| Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, The Scottish Government |
| Eric Stewart, Director of Bus Operations, SPT |
| Brian Masson, Projects Manager, Angus Transport Forum |
| The agenda will also include: |
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John McCormick, Chair of the Scottish Association of Public Transport
Frazer Scott, Acting Chief Executive, Forward Scotland
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John MacDonald, Director for Scotland, Community Transport Association
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| John Nelson, Professor of Transport Studies, University of Aberdeen |
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As part of the Scottish Government's Economic Strategy, a renewed emphasis has been placed on the need for greater "investment on making connections across and with Scotland better, improving reliability and journey times, seeking to maximise the opportunities for employment, business, leisure and tourism; [and] to provide sustainable, integrated and cost-effective public transport alternatives to the car, connecting people, places and work across Scotland." Other strategic priorities have also stressed the importance of environmental sustainability and social inclusion.
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Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) is uniquely placed to contribute to all these goals. In its simplest form, DRT is any kind of transport whose day to day service provision is determined by the demand of the users. It can include everything from specialist transport services taking people to and from hospitals and medical appointments, to minbus services to shopping centres, employment and a range of other social opportunities.
Development and investment of DRT will contribute to economic development, social inclusion and
environmental sustainability, particularly in areas poorly served by current public transport options. It is uniquely responsive to the needs of users based across divergent rural and urban landscapes. It utilises a wide range of twenty-first century technology to provide users with a time and cost effective alternative to traditional transport modes such as private cars, buses and taxis.
08:45 Welcome and refreshments
Session 1: Mainstreaming DRT
This session will examine what the current role of DRT is in regional strategies and how it can be expanded.
Delegates will hear from a wide range of experts and interested parties examining the current legislative and structural funding limitations on the long term investment and development of DRT programmes and how these challenges can be overcome. It will also highlight examples of best practice in integrating DRT with other transport services.
09:30 Welcome by the Chair
Andrew Forster, Editor, Local Transport Today
09:35 Setting the Scene: The Scottish Government perspective
Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, The Scottish Government
09:55 Barriers to the uptake of DRT in Scotland
John Nelson, Professor of Transport Studies and Director of the Centre for Transport Research, University of Aberdeen
10:15 The future of funding for DRT
Speaker tbc
10:35 Integration of DRT and wider transport services
Eric Stewart, Director of Bus Operations, SPT
10:55 Questions and discussion
11:15 Refreshments
Session 2: Urban versus Rural
This session will consider examples from around the globe about how demand for responsive transport is identified and matched with appropriate responsive services. It will consider the demand for responsive transport programmes in both rural and urban areas and consider the implications of this for service provision in Scotland.
11:35 The true potential for DRT in a multi-modal integrated transport system
Brian Masson, Projects Manager, Angus Transport Forum
11:55 Case Study: Urban example of best practice
Speaker tbc
12:15 Case Study: Rural example of best practice
Richard McKenzie, Public Transport Manager, Aberdeenshire Council
12:35 Questions and discussion
12:55 Lunch
Session 3: DRT and Social Inclusion
This session will examine the role of transport in linking people up to basic services, including education, healthcare, and leisure facilities as well as creating easy access to employment opportunities. It will also consider the additional support needs of the elderly, disabled and other minority populations who are particularly vulnerable to poor standardized transport provision.
13:55 Reaching those with additional support needs
John MacDonald, Director for Scotland, Community Transport Association
14:15 Access to employment, health care and leisure activities
Speaker tbc
14:35 Questions and Discussion
14:55 Refreshments
Session 4: DRT and the Environment
This session will examine the potential for demand responsive transport to limit carbon emissions by running only necessary services, and reducing dependency on cars, particularly in rural areas.
15:15 Panel Discussion:
How can DRT contribute to a greener transport policy in Scotland and reducing carbon emissions?
• Frazer Scott, Acting Chief Executive, Forward Scotland
• Dr John McCormick, Chair, Scottish Association for Public Transport
• Other speakers to be confirmed
16:00 Closing statements by Chair
16:05 Close of conference
This conference is an opportunity to examine demand responsive transport models from across the UK and consider how DRT could be incorporated in future Regional Transport Strategies in Scotland. The concordat between local government and the Scottish Government has dramatically changed the landscape for the delivery of transport projects across Scotland. The removal of ring-fenced funding in particular has presented challenges for the development of greater DRT projects. This conference will examine these challenges and hear from a range of experts on how local authorities and regional transport partnerships can work together on developing demand responsive transport programmes across Scotland.
The conference will also consider the current legislative challenges for the introduction of integrated demand responsive transport between transport modes and how policymakers can raise awareness of DRT options in policy making. The conference will look at the potential contribution of DRT to the social inclusion, environmental sustainability and economic development goals outlined by the Scottish Government. It will also examine how key users can be identified and consider examples of best practice in both urban and rural environments.
+ Legislative and funding barriers for DRT
+ The role of DRT in promoting social inclusion, access to public services, and employability
+ The environmental benefits of a demand responsive system
+ Working with local authorities to identify and meet demand for DRT
+ Using technology to guide flexi-services
+ Scotland’s role as a world leader in developing DRT expertise
While we are pulling together the final agenda for this event, please register your interest above. Alternatively you can take advantage of our early bird discount by booking your place now.
If you have any questions,
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or call us on 0131 272 2133.
Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities
Click here for information on sponsorship and exhibition opportunities.
Full Rate £249 + VAT (£292.58)
(Commercial organisations, central government departments, agencies and other national public bodies)
Discounted Rate £149 + VAT (£175.08)
(Charitable organisations with income of less that £1,000,000 - limited places)
Reduced Rate £199 + VAT (£233.83)
(Local authorities, NHS, Police, trade unions, professional associations, and charitable organisations)
Supported Rate £99 + VAT (£116.33)
(Students, community councils and community action groups)
Book before Friday 26th September 08 to take advantage of our Early Bird rate (10% off)
What is included
All fees include lunch, refreshments and conference papers if applicable. Fees do not include travel costs.
Promotion and Exhibition Opportunities
If you are interested in details of promotional opportunities, including exhibition stands and delegate pack inserts, please email Sales or call on 0131 272 2176.
Payment
You will be asked to complete a method of payment option whilst completing the registration form. Delegates must ensure that payment is received before the date of the conference or payment may be required on the day. Payments made by cheque should be made payable to Holyrood Communications Ltd.
Terms and Conditions:The registration form constitutes a legally binding agreement. Cancellations confirmed in writing 7 days prior to the event will be refunded minus an administration charge of 15%. We regret that no refund can be made after that date, for whatever reason, although substitutions will be accepted if notified in writing before the event. Bookings made less than 7 days prior to an event are non-refundable.
Discount Rate Cancellations
Partial cancellations of discounted multiple bookings that revert to a single place will attract the full rate.
Data Protection
The personal information provided by you will be held on a database by Holyrood Events and may be shared with companies in the Holyrood Communications Ltd. Sometimes your details may be made available to external companies for marketing purposes. If you do not wish your details to be used for this purpose, please write to Holyrood Events, 21-23 Slater's Steps Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8PB, SCOTLAND
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