PID operation during the Christmas and New Year holidays
During this year’s Christmas and New Year’s holidays and vacations, the operation of public transport in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region will be adjusted as usual. On Christmas Day, PID will run according to the Saturday timetable, with the end of the daily tram and bus service at approximately 18:00. The metro will run until midnight, but in the evening at extended intervals. From 25 to 26 December 2024 and 1 January 2025, PID will operate according to Sunday timetables. On working days, i.e. On December 23, 27, 30, 2024 and January 2 and 3, 2025, PID will run according to the holiday timetables. On New Year’s Eve, the PID will run according to the holiday timetables, with adjusted operation in the evening and with extended operation.
Monday, December 23, 2024
Public transport operation in Prague according to the holiday timetables valid for the working day. During this period, tram lines 4 and 21 will not be in operation, line 16 will run only in the section of DP Central Workshop – Kotlářka, student bus line 187, student interleaved connections of line 177 on the route Chodov – Volha, and school lines and school connections of suburban lines will not run either . Holiday timetables will apply on selected suburban lines. Trains will run according to the timetables for a normal working day with possible minor restrictions on selected connections.
Tuesday 24 December 2024 (Christmas Day)
PID will run on Christmas Day this year according to the Saturday holiday timetable. The metro will run according to the Saturday timetable until approx. 18:00, then it will run at intervals of 20 minutes until approx. midnight. The daily operation of trams, buses and ferries will end at approximately 18:00. Airport line 59 will follow the metro until the end of its operation. Bus lines primarily serving shopping centers (180, 191, 208, 228, 246) will also run according to special timetables. Lines 143, 187 and 238 will not be in operation.
Night services will depart at approximately 6:00 p.m. and will be in operation until approximately 7:00 a.m. the next day. During metro operation, line 904 will go to Zličín metro station, line 908 to Skalka metro station, lines 911 and 916 to Letňany metro station and line 911 to Roztyly metro station. Selected night suburban lines will run according to special timetables.
Suburban bus lines will run according to Saturday timetables and their evening operation will be modified by the relevant time notes in the timetables.
Train operation according to Sunday or holiday timetables will be terminated between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., with the fact that operations will be maintained on selected backbone lines S until approximately 10:00 p.m. The operation of line S49 will be terminated approximately at 5:00 p.m. The midnight departure of trains from Prague will also be cancelled.
Wednesday 25 December 2024 (Christmas Day 1)
PID operation according to the Sunday holiday timetables, with the fact that the daily operation of trams, city and selected suburban buses will start from approximately 7:00 a.m., with the exception of line 59, which will depart following the start of metro operation. During the metro operation, selected night lines will return to selected metro stations in the same way as on Christmas Day. Lines 143, 187, 238 and inserted student connections of line 177 to the Volga will not be in operation. Bus lines primarily serving shopping centers (180, 191, 208, 228, 246) will also run according to special timetables. Trains will run according to the timetables for Sunday or holiday with possible minor restrictions on selected connections. Train line S49 will not start operating until approximately 7:00 a.m.
Thursday 26 December 2024 (2nd Boxing Day)
PID operation according to Sunday holiday timetables. Lines 143, 187 and inserted student connections of line 177 on the Volga will not be in operation. Bus lines primarily serving shopping centers (180, 191, 208, 228, 246) will also run according to special timetables. Trains will run according to the timetables for Sunday or holiday with possible minor restrictions on selected connections.
Friday, December 27, 2024
Public transport operation in Prague according to the holiday timetables valid for the working day. During this period, tram lines 4 and 21 will not be in operation, line 16 will run only in the section of DP Central Workshop – Kotlářka, student bus line 187 will not run, student connections of line 177 on the route Chodov – Volha will not run, and school lines and school connections of suburban lines will not run either . Holiday timetables will apply on selected suburban lines. Trains will run according to the timetables for the working day with possible minor restrictions on selected connections.
Saturday, December 28, 2024
PID operation according to Saturday holiday timetables. Student lines 143, 187 and inserted student connections of line 177 to the Volga will not be in operation.
Sunday, December 29, 2024
PID operation according to Sunday holiday timetables. Student lines 143, 187 and inserted student connections of line 177 to the Volga will not be in operation.
Monday, December 30, 2024
Public transport operation in Prague according to the holiday timetables valid for the working day. During this period, tram lines 4 and 21 will not be in operation, line 16 will run only in the section of DP Central Workshop – Kotlářka, student bus line 187 will not run, student connections of line 177 on the route Chodov – Volha will not run, and school lines and school connections of suburban lines will not run either . Holiday timetables will apply on selected suburban lines. Trains will run according to the timetables for the working day with possible minor restrictions on selected connections.
Tuesday, December 31, 2024 (New Year’s Eve)
Public transport operation in Prague according to the holiday timetables valid for the working day. The metro will run with extended operation so that the last connections pass through the center of Prague on the second day just after 2 am. Tram lines 4 and 21 will be out of service, line 16 will run only in the DP Central Workshop – Kotlářka section. The daily operation of trams and buses will end at approx. 22:00, with the fact that selected bus lines (59, 102, 103, 106, 107, 109, 111, 112, 113, 118, 120, 123, 125, 126, 129, 131, 134, 136, 137, 139, 141, 142, 145, 153, 154, 159, 161, 162, 163, 174, 176, 177, 180, 190, 191, 193, 197, 199, 201, 207, 215, 221, 226, 227, 229, 241; some lines only on part of the regular route) according to special timetables. Bus lines primarily serving shopping centers (180, 191, 208, 228, 238 and 246) will also run according to special timetables.
Student bus line 187, inserted student connections of line 177 on the route Chodov – Volha, and school lines and school connections of suburban lines will not run either.
The operation of night trams will start at approximately 10:00 p.m. at 15-minute intervals on all lines until approximately 3:30 a.m. the next day, after which all lines will switch to an interval of 20 minutes and will operate until approximately 7:00 a.m. the next day. Guaranteed transfers are cancelled.
Night bus lines (lines 904, 905, 910, 911 in a shorter interval) will depart on the second day at approximately 2:30 a.m. and will be in operation on the second day until approximately 7:00 a.m. During metro operation, line 904 will go to Zličín metro station, line 908 will go to Skalka metro station, lines 911 and 916 to Letňany metro station and line 911 to Roztyly metro station. Selected night suburban lines will run according to special timetables. Guaranteed transfers are cancelled.
Holiday timetables will apply on selected suburban lines and their evening operation will be modified by the relevant time notes in the timetables.
Trains will run according to the holiday timetables for the working day and the operation will end at approx. 20:00 with the fact that until approx. 22:00 to 23:00 the operation will be maintained at an interval of 60 minutes on all S lines (from/to Prague). The operation of line S49 will end at approximately 19:00. The midnight departure of trains from Prague will also be cancelled.
Wednesday 1 January 2025 (New Year’s Day)
PID operation according to the Sunday holiday timetables, with the fact that the daily operation of trams, city and selected suburban buses will start from approximately 7:00 a.m., with the exception of line 59, which will depart following the start of metro operation. During the metro operation, selected night lines will return to selected metro stations in the same way as on Christmas Day. Lines 143, 238 and inserted student connections of line 177 on the Volga will not be in operation. Bus lines primarily serving shopping centers (180, 191, 208, 228, 246) will also run according to special timetables. Trains will run according to the timetables for Sunday or holiday with possible minor restrictions on selected connections. Train line S49 will not start operating until approximately 7:00 a.m.
Thursday 2 and Friday 3 January 2025
Public transport operation in Prague according to the holiday timetables valid for the working day. During this period, tram lines 4 and 21 will not be in operation, line 16 will run only in the DP Ústřední dílny – Kotlářka section, the inserted student lines of line 177 on the route Chodov – Volha will not run, and school lines and school lines of suburban lines will not run either. Holiday timetables will apply on selected suburban lines. Trains will run according to the timetables for the working day with possible minor restrictions on selected connections.
Saturday, January 4, 2025
PID operation according to Saturday holiday timetables. Student line 187 and inserted student connections of line 177 to the Volga will not be in operation.
Sunday, January 5, 2025
PID operation according to Sunday holiday timetables. The inserted student connections of line 177 on the Volga will not be in operation.
PID operation in January and February 2025
From January 6, 2025 to February 28, 2025, the Christmas and New Year’s service will be followed by a slightly limited public transport service due to the reduced demand at the beginning of the year every year. The operation of metro lines, trams and most city buses will be organized according to half-holiday timetables, i.e. to a similar extent as in the first months of 2024.
Demand Transport PID Halo
PID Halo is a newly established pilot project of the so-called demand-response transport. It is the first implementation of demand-response transport in the Czech Republic under a public service obligation. The concept of demand-response transport does not work with fixed routes, timetables or times like conventional regular line transport. It allows for a completely dynamic creation of routes that are tailored to passengers according to their demand. Abroad, this concept is known as “demand responsive transport” or “transport on demand”.
The distinctive feature of the PID Halo project is its full integration into the integrated transport system. Fares are governed by the PID tariff, vehicles meet PID quality standards and transport ordering is done via the PID Lítačka application. As Czech legislation does not recognise the concept of demand-response transport, the operation is affected by restrictions such as the need to follow predefined route variants.
The purpose of the pilot project is to get an overall picture of the real needs of passengers, to obtain information on operational and economic parameters, to test the technology and last but not least to gain real experience for relevant comments on the upcoming changes to the relevant legislative standards.
Benefits for PID
In general, demand-response transport can effectively replace regular services with low load factors. In the Prague Integrated Transport system there is potential for the introduction of demand responsive transport, especially at peak hours and at weekends. In many parts of the Central Bohemian Region, for example, only backbone lines are in operation in the evening. These usually serve only the larger towns and it is not possible to reach the surrounding villages by public transport alone. On the other hand, connections to smaller villages are usually available at weekends, but at very long intervals (usually 4 hours). The demand for connections in such areas may not be constant and may only be for units of passengers for which it would not be worthwhile to operate a large bus.
Technologies and their integration
Technologies play a crucial role in the whole concept. Demand-response transport is based on a different logic than conventional bus services. Therefore, it was necessary to develop completely new software to reflect the specificities of demand-response transport. The development also had to take into account the limitations of existing legislation. This requires, for example, that the route variants used by demand-response vehicles be defined. During the development process, care was taken to ensure that the resulting software was as easily adaptable as possible to the expected legislative changes.
The basis of the entire solution is a monitoring application that stores all data on available capacity, such as vehicles and drivers, as well as demand. The customer can create a demand in two ways. The preferred one is to search for a specific connection using the PID Lítačka application. After searching for a connection that includes a demand response, the customer has the option to order the connection. The second channel is a special hotline.
Based on both channels are virtual assistants who handle 100% of all requests. There is no human factor in the whole process from enquiry to scheduling. The PID Lítačka application refers to the chatbot when a connection is found. The chatbot gets complete information from the PID Counter app about the searched connection and the customer who searched for it. Then, according to defined scenarios, it asks for the remaining information (e.g. whether the customer does not want to carry a stroller, etc.). The collected information is then used by autonomous planning algorithms to try to plan to the current capacity. All this happens in seconds at most. A voicebot is deployed on the hotline, which shares some of the logic with the chatbot. The difference is that the voicebot asks the customer for the entire connection. So part of the project was also teaching the voicebot specifics, such as correctly identifying when the customer wants to leave the “station” that it is the “railway station” stop.
The last of the main elements of the solution is a mobile application for drivers. Every order that is successfully scheduled is immediately displayed to the driver in the timetable. The entire solution is built on scalable cloud servers. Within this, reporting is used with the help of business intelligence tools.
Legislation
There are a number of constraints within the current legislation that make it impossible to operate a fully dynamic demand-response transport model under a public service obligation. The main limitation is the need to define a precise route with specific stops. This means that it is not possible to create routes directly tailored to actual demand, but only from predefined options. The second problem is the obligation to define fixed times. This makes it impossible to react flexibly enough to emerging demand.
New legislation is expected to come into force in 2025 that will address not only the above-mentioned limitations. It will now be possible to use so-called boarding points as an alternative to conventional bus stops. These will be places where smaller demand-response vehicles will be able to stop without having to set up a conventional stop.
What’s next
For the development of demand-response transport and the PID Haló project, we expect legislative changes to be introduced during 2025. The aim of the Integrated Transport of the Central Bohemian Region is to extend demand-response transport to other parts of the Central Bohemian Region to complement or replace the existing network of regular transport. An important step is the introduction of fully flexible route planning, which will increase operational efficiency. The PID Lítačka mobile application will continue to be the focal point from the passenger’s point of view.
PID Haló is a newly established pilot project of the so-called demand-response transport. It is the first implementation of demand-response transport in the Czech Republic under a public service obligation. The concept of demand-response transport does not work with fixed routes, timetables or times like conventional regular line transport. It allows for a completely dynamic creation of routes that are tailored to passengers according to their demand. Abroad, this concept is known as “demand responsive transport” or “transport on demand”.
The distinctive feature of the PID Halo project is its full integration into the integrated transport system. Fares are governed by the PID tariff, vehicles meet PID quality standards and transport ordering is done via the PID Lítačka application. As Czech legislation does not recognise the concept of demand-response transport, the operation is affected by restrictions such as the need to follow predefined route variants.
The purpose of the pilot project is to get an overall picture of the real needs of passengers, to obtain information on operational and economic parameters, to test the technology and last but not least to gain real experience for relevant comments on the upcoming changes to the relevant legislative standards.
Benefits for PID
In general, demand-response transport can effectively replace regular services with low load factors. In the Prague Integrated Transport system there is potential for the introduction of demand responsive transport, especially at peak hours and at weekends. In many parts of the Central Bohemian Region, for example, only backbone lines are in operation in the evening. These usually serve only the larger towns and it is not possible to reach the surrounding villages by public transport alone. On the other hand, connections to smaller villages are usually available at weekends, but at very long intervals (usually 4 hours). The demand for connections in such areas may not be constant and may only be for units of passengers for which it would not be worthwhile to operate a large bus.
Technologies and their integration
Technologies play a crucial role in the whole concept. Demand-response transport is based on a different logic than conventional bus services. Therefore, it was necessary to develop completely new software to reflect the specificities of demand-response transport. The development also had to take into account the limitations of existing legislation. This requires, for example, that the route variants used by demand-response vehicles be defined. During the development process, care was taken to ensure that the resulting software was as easily adaptable as possible to the expected legislative changes.
The basis of the entire solution is a monitoring application that stores all data on available capacity, such as vehicles and drivers, as well as demand. The customer can create a demand in two ways. The preferred one is to search for a specific connection using the PID Lítačka application. After searching for a connection that includes a demand response, the customer has the option to order the connection. The second channel is a special hotline.
Based on both channels are virtual assistants who handle 100% of all requests. There is no human factor in the whole process from enquiry to scheduling. The PID Lítačka application refers to the chatbot when a connection is found. The chatbot gets complete information from the PID Counter app about the searched connection and the customer who searched for it. Then, according to defined scenarios, it asks for the remaining information (e.g. whether the customer does not want to carry a stroller, etc.). The collected information is then used by autonomous planning algorithms to try to plan to the current capacity. All this happens in seconds at most. A voicebot is deployed on the hotline, which shares some of the logic with the chatbot. The difference is that the voicebot asks the customer for the entire connection. So part of the project was also teaching the voicebot specifics, such as correctly identifying when the customer wants to leave the “station” that it is the “railway station” stop.
The last of the main elements of the solution is a mobile application for drivers. Every order that is successfully scheduled is immediately displayed to the driver in the timetable.
The entire solution is built on scalable cloud servers. Within this, reporting is used with the help of business intelligence tools.
Legislation
There are a number of constraints within the current legislation that make it impossible to operate a fully dynamic demand-response transport model under a public service obligation. The main limitation is the need to define a precise route with specific stops. This means that it is not possible to create routes directly tailored to actual demand, but only from predefined options. The second problem is the obligation to define fixed times. This makes it impossible to react flexibly enough to emerging demand.
New legislation is expected to come into force in 2025 that will address not only the above-mentioned limitations. It will now be possible to use so-called boarding points as an alternative to conventional bus stops. These will be places where smaller demand-response vehicles will be able to stop without having to set up a conventional stop.
What’s next
For the development of demand-response transport and the PID Haló project, we expect legislative changes to be introduced during 2025. The aim of the Integrated Transport of the Central Bohemian Region is to extend demand-response transport to other parts of the Central Bohemian Region to complement or replace the existing network of regular transport. An important step is the introduction of fully flexible route planning, which will increase operational efficiency. The PID Lítačka mobile application will continue to be the focal point from the passenger’s point of view.
All bus and trolleybus stops are on the sign from 29 June 2024
The character of all PID bus and trolleybus stops will be unified throughout Prague and the Central Bohemia Region from 29 June 2024. To get off at each stop, you will need to press a button in the car in time. To board, it will be sufficient to stand at the stop so that the passenger can be seen by the driver. Waving is no longer necessary. Prague and the Central Bohemian Region are now launching a comprehensive information campaign to ensure that this change is not missed.
The advantages of the new system are faster travel, a higher probability of eliminating or reducing possible delays, smoother driving by eliminating unnecessary braking and starting, and better thermal comfort in the vehicle, as the heat will not be wasted in winter and the air conditioning will work more efficiently in summer. There is also the advantage of making the rules for individual stops clearer – the passenger will no longer have to check whether a stop is on the signal or not. The economy of the operation will also improve and we will be more environmentally friendly, because it is during the departures that most emissions and noise are generated and the bus also has the highest instantaneous fuel consumption.
Signalized stops are nothing new for passengers in the PID system. In Prague alone, only about 30% of bus stops are permanent, and the number of signal stops has been growing rapidly in recent years thanks to the removal of the need to wave at the bus. „This is a trend that has been in place for many years in many places. Unfortunately, there have been different variations in the modes of individual stops. In the Central Bohemian Region and in Prague we will therefore unify the whole system. Buses were already stopping at the sign in about half of the territory and the system has proved very successful. As far as other regions are concerned, and we have no information that problems have arisen there,” says Petr Borecký, the Central Bohemian Region’s councillor for public transport.
„At present, we have a total of about 5,500 bus stops within the PID system in the Central Bohemia Region, of which over 3,000 are already in “on signal” mode. Therefore, the full-scale introduction of stops on signal will not be a novelty for most passengers in the Central Bohemian Region and I am convinced that it will be trouble-free. So far we have not seen any complaints from passengers where this system is already in place,” said Zdeněk Šponar, Director of IDSK.
What people must do to stop a vehicle
For passengers, this change will mean only one thing – they will need to press the button in the car well in advance of the stop so that the driver knows in time to stop and the stop itself is safe and smooth. When waiting at the bus stop, passengers do not have to do anything to stop – they just have to stand where they can be seen by the driver, they do not have to wave.
People do not have to worry about not being able to signal in time. On every bus, the buttons are evenly spaced throughout the car and are accessible from almost every seat, and both the red STOP buttons and the yellow buttons on or near the doors can be used to stop. There’s also no need to worry about buses running people over. Drivers will still be required to wait at the bus stop until the exact departure time if they arrive earlier than the timetable says.
Are you performing? Press the button. Everyone will know about the change
„From June until September, there will be an information campaign in the media, on vehicles and at bus stops so that no one misses this change. “The campaign’s main slogan is Are you getting off? Push the button. That’s really all that matters,” says ROPID director Petr Tomčík. Every bus and trolleybus will carry an information leaflet and round warning stickers will be stuck on the doors. Passengers will also encounter leaflets and posters in various formats at surface transport stops, but also at metro entrances and on trams. „In the coming days, we will be presenting and explaining the new bus stop system in detail on the PID’s social media channels as well as those of individual carriers, cities or municipalities. We have also prepared video clips in which Jan Vondráček, whose voice accompanies us every day in trams and buses, has played the main role. We are also specially informing organisations that associate physically, visually and hearing impaired citizens,” adds Petr Tomčík. The campaign will then return after the holidays to remind schoolchildren who are now on the run of the new system. However, buses will continue to stop at all stops on Prague’s school routes for the little ones.
How to report stops
The way stops are announced in vehicles will be modified from July. Instead of “next stop is on signal”, passengers will hear “press the button to exit”. Information about the next stop will now be announced after the departure from the previous stop to more intuitively guide passengers to the right moment to press the exit button well in advance. Drivers will also have special reminder announcements that they can play on the car speakers if they see fit. In the first weeks after the change, this special announcement will be played at regular intervals in all Prague Transport Company vehicles by its dispatching centre. We assume that after a certain period, when people get used to the new system, such sessions will no longer be needed and only the classic announcement of individual stops will remain.
„The gradual introduction of stops on signal has already ensured in the past an increase in the fluidity of bus public transport, but also considerable economic and environmental benefits. This latest phase will simplify the system for drivers and passengers and will allow them to benefit from the increased fluidity of bus and trolleybus operations, especially in the evening, at night or at weekends, and at bus stops that are heavily used during peak periods of the working day. Already practically all buses in the PID system have demand opening doors, so the widespread extension of stops on signal will actually mean for passengers only pressing the STOP button or demand button on the door in time, preferably immediately after departure from the previous stop. I firmly believe that with the initial mutual friendliness and consideration, the unification of the system will be beneficial for all parties: passengers, drivers and residents in the vicinity of the stops,” concludes Jan Barchánek, Head of the Bus Operations Unit of the Capital City Transport Company. Jan Jan.
Sign stops – a global trend
The nationwide uniform character of stops “on the sign” works in the Czech Republic on regional lines in the entire Ústí nad Liberec region and is gradually being introduced by other cities and regions – for example, last year a number of Central Bohemian cities and the entire Benešov district joined in, and last year this system was introduced without problems in Bratislava, for example. This system has been in place for years in most European cities and regions.
The PID Lítačka app introduces a unique new generation route finder
Hundreds of thousands of people use the PID Lítačka application for travelling in Prague and the Central Bohemia Region every day. It is an indispensable tool for everyone who travels in the region. The new route finder brings a higher standard of search services, which gives users much more freedom when planning their journeys.
The search engine not only finds a route for travelling by public transport, car or bicycle, but also offers a combination of all these modes of transport within one route. For example, if you want to drive, park and then continue on public transport, the app will find exactly that route for you. It will even point you to a parking lot where you can park your car.
„The new generation search engine will find the most convenient and fastest combination of public transport, trains, taxis, walking, car and bike sharing. Unlike other search engines, it allows you to start your journey from any address and also works with the current delay of each connection. PID Lítačka is thus becoming the only mobile application that not only allows passengers in the Czech capital and the Central Bohemian Region to plan their journey completely, but also enables the purchase of individual tickets, long-term coupons or payment for parking. And all this with a few clicks on the phone,” says Zdeněk Hřib, 1st Deputy Mayor of Prague for Transport.
„After a hundred years, we have moved from a book in the pockets of conductors, in which timetables and commuting distances could be found, to a clear mobile application, accessible to each of us. The next-generation route finder cleverly suggests which mode of transport is most convenient for the user’s route at a given time. It can do this thanks to the robust data base that the ICT Operator brings together for this purpose. The data is drawn from the Golemio data platform, thanks to which the application reflects both current events in Prague’s traffic and long-term and regular trends. I use the application myself and am usually satisfied with the search results,” adds Daniel Mazur, Prague City Councillor for ICT, Smart City, Science, Research and Innovation.
Time-saving and smart combination of walking and transport
The search engine uses real-time information on delays and the current location of connections, which means that it displays transfers with a time guarantee for passengers. This gives them enough time to transfer even to connections that they would not be able to catch according to the timetable.
„I appreciate that the search engine works with actual, real-time delay and location times of connections. It saves us Central Bohemians time that we spend on the way not only to Prague, but also in our region. I am even more pleased with the improved function of the whisperer in the Central Bohemia region. The search engine has an improved whisperer of villages and public transport stops in the Central Bohemian Region, it remembers the most frequently entered places and addresses in the area. This means it knows where you often need to go and what you are interested in. This means that the new search engine makes it easier for us to travel not only to Prague, but also throughout the entire Central Bohemian Region,” says Petr Borecký, Central Bohemian Region Councillor for Public Transport.
Convenient travel is key
One of the key features of the new search is more accurate calculation of walking routes, giving users the ability to get an accurate door-to-door connection. It allows you to start your journey from any address, be it home, school, office or shopping centre. Users are no longer tied to public transport stops as with traditional search. Simply enter the starting and destination addresses and the search engine will offer them a route that takes into account various factors such as distance, accessibility, safety and more.In addition, the search engine takes into account the specific needs of passengers and offers them wheelchair accessible stops and low-floor connections. It adjusts routes so that the most suitable one is always available, does not send passengers to escalators or elevators that don’t work, and even avoids climbing steep hills.
Unique technology and data background
Unlike other search engines that offer only one form of transport or combine transport modes separately, the planner in PID Lítačka is fully intermodal. This means that it allows the combination of different means of transport in one route, which is unique not only in the Czech Republic but also in the world.Another key feature is the extensive data base on which the planner relies. With more than 30 different data sources, from road and cycle route maps to current vehicle locations and parking occupancy, the search engine also takes into account a variety of traffic situations in real time.
Shared means of transport
Shared transport is becoming an increasingly popular option, increasing travel comfort, reducing travel time and promoting sustainable mobility in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region.The PID Lítačka application incorporates shared modes of mobility into route planning alongside its own means of transport, allowing users to combine different forms of transport more efficiently and thus reduce the burden on the transport network. In this way, PID Lítačka contributes to a better environment by reducing emissions and pollution.
„The aim of the new PID Lítačka is to offer people a practical and universal tool for getting around Prague and the entire Central Bohemia Region. We have now included shared bikes or cars in the range of connections, as well as a precise calculation of walking routes from house to house. PID Lítačka is now also a helper when combining public transport and your own car. Everyone can choose the best option from the options offered. Even though the connection finder has been extended with new features, it can still only be used for basic public transport connections. All you have to do is tick the means of transport you are interested in,” says Petr Tomčík, Director of ROPID.
Cooperation for innovation
The development of the new generation search engine was made possible thanks to the cooperation of the municipal company Operátor ICT, which is the operator of the PID Lítačka application, and almost twenty partners from the field of mobility and algorithmization.Users of the application can use the services of private mobility providers, such as NextBike, Rekola, Liftago, the Czech Carsharing Association and its members: Anytime, Car4way, Autonapůl, HoppyGo.
„Cooperation with the ICT Operator and integration of Liftago into the PID Lítačka application is another step for us towards building a convenient mobility system in Prague. We believe that the connection with public transport, taxis, shared bikes, cars and other means of transport within PID Lítačka will make transport easier and even faster for users. At the same time, we appreciate the fact that we can bring our know-how that we have built up during our time on the market to the app. Thanks to this, passengers in Prague can rely on a calm and trouble-free travel with Liftago,” adds Radek Svíčka, director of Liftago, a Czech technology company that focuses on safe taxi and reliable courier services.
„It is an innovative innovation of the Prague City Council, which fundamentally connects the forms of travel in Prague. This very popular app for efficient use of public transport is now complemented by other forms of transport, such as carsharing. Over the last five years, carsharing has essentially become a public individual transport and serves all people who primarily use public transport, walk or cycle and only drive when necessary, thus contributing to reducing the traffic load in our capital city,” says Roman Filip, Chairman of the Czech Carsharing Association.
„The partnership with the Prague Integrated Transport (PID) and the inclusion of carsharing in the PID Lítačka app is welcomed by individual members of the carsharing association and their customers. The ability to find a route using shared cars, the location of which is displayed in real time in the app, offers flexibility for all those who need to get around Prague quickly and efficiently. The popularity of carsharing has recently been growing even among users aged 40-60, although until recently carsharing was primarily used by young people aged 18-29,” adds Roman Filip.
„Now you can not only ride them twice a day for 15 minutes for free with a prepaid Lítačka, but also plan routes directly in the Lítačka app. We believe that not only existing Rekol users will benefit from this, but also that the app will bring new users who will be “nudged” to try the new way of transport,” says Jan Střecha from Rekola.
„Our interest in NextBik is always to make an excellent service for the city, as well as for all those who live in the city and commute to it. Now that people can find a variant of their route combined with NextBike shared bikes directly in the PID Lítačka app, modern urban mobility in Prague is getting a new boost. Already today, 10,000 users each month happily use NextBike bikes for their journeys around Prague, whether they are short or longer, relieving both clogged streets and parking spaces, among other things. The new PID Lítačka navigation search engine is another great tool to make getting around the city pleasant and comfortable for people from the moment they plan their journey. While it may not feel like it, the vast majority of our trips are short, and bike share, combined with public transit, is the perfect partner for anyone who wants to get around town quickly, efficiently, and top it off with the good feeling that riding a NextBike in the fresh air brings. At the same time, with a clever innovation in the PID Lítačka app, the City of Prague is making shared micromobility a little more attractive. Thank you for that,” adds Tomáš Karpov from NextBike, which operates the most widespread fleet of shared bikes in the Czech Republic.
User first
The most important role in this process was played by the users themselves. „Thanks to the involvement of more than 2,000 users in the trial run, we received valuable feedback that helped us to improve the search engine and adapt it to the needs of users,” says Benedikt Kotmel, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the municipal company Operátor ICT, which operates and develops the PID Lítačka application.The search engine is currently available in beta version, but it is in full operational mode and all functions, such as buying tickets or parking, are fully functional. Due to the huge data base and their complex real-time calculation, unforeseen situations or minor errors may occur, which are continuously removed and the application is further improved. The search engine is designed primarily for users, and they have the opportunity to contribute to its quality and future feature development with their feedback.
„We want our app to serve as many people as possible, and your experience and opinions will help us do that. So don’t hesitate to try out the unique next generation search engine. Join us in discovering new possibilities and convenience when planning your routes,” adds Benedikt Kotmel.Another planned improvement of the mobile app will be a new online map of Prague Integrated Transport vehicles in one place and other functionalities.