The paper examines the impact of Germany’s “Deutschlandticket” on rural on-demand bus services using real-world operational data from two service models in Bavaria: a feeder service with fixed time slots connecting to an urban center and a fully flexible free-floating service.
Methodologically, the study applies a Difference-in-Differences approach to compare travel behavior before and after the fare reform. The results reveal distinct responses across service models. The feeder service experienced substantial increases in trip frequency, traveled distance, and rural–urban connectivity, whereas demand in the free-floating system remained largely stable.
The findings highlight that the effectiveness of flat-fare policies in rural areas strongly depends on service design and structural characteristics of the transportation system.
The article is availabe here.
