Cermonews #11 | DRT-Demand Responsive Transport

Parabol
Jul 17
6 min read

Hello 👐🏻

We’re back with the 11th issue of Cermonews! In this issue, how about we talk about demand-responsive, data-driven, and user-centric DRT systems? 🚌✨

When it comes to public transport, fixed routes and stop-based services usually come to mind. But what happens when mobility needs don’t fit into these patterns? In this issue, we’re taking you beyond fixed routes and introducing you to flexible mobility solutions.

We explain:

What DRT systems are,
In which regions and why they have become necessary,
And how they actually work in practice.

As Parabol, we also share our contribution in this field and our experience in planning processes.

With this newsletter and all our content, our goal is to continue creating valuable resources for the sector by delivering mobility knowledge in a clear and simple way. And as always, our “News from Us”, “Cermopedia” and “Meet the Team” sections are also featured.

Enjoy the read! 🎉

What is DRT (Demand Responsive Transport)?

DRT, or Demand Responsive Transport Systems, is a flexible mobility approach shaped by passenger requests, differing from conventional fixed-route public transport systems.

These systems provide effective solutions especially in areas or time slots with irregular and unpredictable demand. The main goal of DRT is to gather real-time or predictable demands and make fast, efficient, and user-focused transportation decisions.

DRT systems are generally classified into three types based on flexibility:

Fully flexible systems: Route and time are entirely determined by demand. For example, vehicles summoned instantly via a mobile app fall under this model.
Semi-flexible systems: There is a main route, but vehicles can deviate to stops as demand arises. This is common in rural areas with on-demand bus services.
Low-flexibility systems: The route is fixed, but stopping at certain points depends on demand. This model is often preferred during off-peak hours.

The strongest aspect of DRT is its ability to respond flexibly to user needs and enable more efficient use of resources. DRT offers an effective alternative in areas that cannot be served by fixed routes, combining flexibility with resource efficiency.

DRT: Where, When, and Why Is It Needed?

DRT is a transport system planned based on the demands passengers report in advance. The passenger specifies where, at what time they want to board, and where they’ll get off.

The system analyzes the collected requests to plan the most suitable routes and times for passengers. The service is provided within the indicated time window. This makes the transportation service more personalized, efficient, and planned. 📍

Public transport demand is generally evaluated under four categories:

Regular Demand: Recurring mobility needs (e.g., commuting to work every morning).
Irregular Demand: Random or infrequent mobility needs.
Realized Demand: Mobility needs met by public transportation.
Potential Demand: Situations where there is a need but, due to lack of service, alternative methods are used (e.g., taking a taxi to the hospital).

📍 For example, a student taking the bus to school every day represents regular and realized demand; whereas a person who has to take a taxi to the hospital due to no public transport represents irregular and potential demand. DRT systems aim to address such unmet mobility needs.

An example of this approach is Dial-a-Ride systems. Passengers place their requests via a call center or mobile app. The vehicle picks them up at the specified time and drops them off at their destination. This system provides independent mobility especially for elderly individuals, people with disabilities, or those with limited mobility.

How Does Parabol Contribute to DRT Planning? Approach and Implementation Process

Our DRT approach offers an effective alternative particularly for lines serving areas far from city centers (districts, villages, etc.). In these regions, transportation demands are often irregular and unpredictable, making traditional fixed-route systems ineffective.

Long-distance routes, low passenger numbers at certain hours, and peaks at others, along with imbalanced occupancy rates, increase costs and reduce system efficiency.

At this point, we offer a semi-flexible DRT approach. In this model, the route and stops remain fixed, but departure times are planned flexibly based on passenger requests. The system collects trip requests within a certain planning period and provides service close to the requested time for each passenger.

The planning process is structured to consider both current demand and future reservations.

This way:

Vehicles are used more efficiently,
Unnecessary gaps in service are eliminated,
The system can respond flexibly to newly emerging demands.

The core objective of DRT systems is to make transport services more planned, accessible, and efficient. Our approach supports this goal by reducing unnecessary trips, optimizing resource use, and offering a service model shaped by demand.

News from Us 📰

We were at UITP Global Summit 2025 in Hamburg! 🚆🌍

🙌 We attended the world’s largest public transportation event, the UITP Global Summit held in Hamburg. We introduced our public transport decision-support system, Cermoni, at our booth and also showcased it in a live demo as part of the Innovation Guided Tour.

🎤 Additionally, our Marketing Director Tuğçe Işık gave a presentation on scenario-based public transport planning.

We thank all booth visitors, everyone who attended our presentation, and all who interacted with us during the event. Together, we’re working towards a more accessible and sustainable future in public transport! 🚍🌱

We Gave a Road Safety Training at TU Berlin as Part of Our Safely Project Supported by EIT UM 🚦

🌍 From June 18–20, we took part in the “Road Safety in the Digital Age” professional training program held in Berlin, as part of the Safely Project supported by EIT Urban Mobility. Throughout the event, we discussed how data use, digital tools, and systematic approaches contribute to traffic safety.

🎙 Baran, Emre, and Tuğçe shared insights from the Safely platform, international use cases, and our tech-driven solutions in various sessions. We continue to co-create ideas for safer cities with participants from different countries. 🚸💡

We Were in Istanbul for the Horizon DUT Project Meeting on 15-Minute City Models! 🏙️🤝

As part of the FORTHCOMING project supported by the Horizon DUT call, we gathered in Istanbul with 19 stakeholders from 7 countries to discuss the 15-minute city models we are testing across 6 European Urban Living Labs.

At the event, we evaluated ongoing work within the framework of Urban Living Labs, where solutions are developed in real-life urban settings with users.

As Parabol, our role in the project includes conducting big data-based mobility analyses for implementing 15-minute city concepts in rural areas, along with quality controls for reliable risk assessments and outcomes. 🌍💡

We Attended the SKUP Türkiye Closing Event! 🚍📍

We joined valuable mobility ecosystem stakeholders at the International Urban Mobility Conference and SKUP Türkiye closing event held in Ankara.

As Parabol, we’re proud of our contributions to promoting sustainable, data-driven, and innovative mobility planning in cities and building institutional capacity through the SKUP Türkiye project.

At the event, our partner and Sales Director Emre Er shared our experiences from Eskişehir, Konya, İzmir, and İstanbul SKUP projects, discussing the transition from data collection to decision-support systems and the challenges faced. 📊🧭

This important gathering continues to support our goal of developing more sustainable and effective transport solutions for Turkish cities.

🎥 New Episode of Cermopedia: Demand Responsive Transport Systems

We all know the terminology—but are we using them in the same way? In our Cermopedia series where we explain public transport concepts in simple terms, this time we explore Demand Responsive Transport Systems (DRT). 🚐

In our new video, we answer key questions about the principles and use cases of DRT systems, and explain how they differ from traditional public transport.

👉 To watch: Click here

Cermopedia continues to explain technical topics in the field in an accessible way for everyone. Stay tuned for new episodes! 🎬📚

Meet the Team 🙌🏻

In each issue, we introduce you to a team member and the experts behind our innovative work in public transport.

In this issue, meet our Digital Marketing Assistant Beyza Selim, who plays an active role in bringing our public transport solutions to cities! 🚍

"“As a Digital Marketing Assistant at Parabol, I experience firsthand how Cermoni offers practical and innovative solutions to real needs in public transport. My goal is to ensure these solutions appear on the screens of all stakeholders, from field to office, with the right message at the right time. Understanding the challenges professionals face in planning processes, thinking from their perspective, and clearly communicating Cermoni’s solutions through digital channels fuels my motivation. Knowing that every step I take contributes to a more efficient, planned, and trackable public transport system makes my job even more meaningful—because Cermoni is shaping not only today, but also the future of sustainable urban mobility.”

As Cermonews readers, would you like to share your needs, questions, or inspiring implementations with us?

Your contributions are highly valuable. Thank you in advance! 🙏

Don’t forget to visit our website to learn more about Cermoni! You can access it by clicking here.

See you in the next issue. 👋