MaaS trends and policy-level initiatives in the EU

• Published in: IATSS research Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 207 - 209
• Main Author: Sakai, Koichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2019; Elsevier
• Subjects: European Commission; MaaS; Policy; Public transport; Policy; MaaS; Public transport; European Commission
• ISSN: 0386-1112; 2210-4240
• DOI: 10.1016/j.iatssr.2019.11.001

The concept of mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) was conceived in Finland, and it is characteristically user-oriented. Interest in MaaS has quickly spread across Europe along with the rapid advances in information and communications technology and the internet of things in recent years, as the realization of MaaS is consistent with the policy directions of the EU member states promoting the use of public transport. This paper describes the MaaS concept in EU, the birth of the concept in Finland and its background, and EU-wide policy level initiatives and their characteristics. •Characteristically, MaaS is user-oriented, and its realization is consistent with the policy directions of the EU member states promoting the use of public transport•The concept of MaaS was conceived in Finland, and it is closely related to the industrial structure in Finland•At the policy level, the European Commission has continued to promote initiatives on EU-wide multimodal journey planner for the past decade•Compatibility, interoperability, and continuity are important in realizing MaaS•Title: MaaS trends and policy-level initiatives in the EU