The Role of Autonomous Transport for Essential Public Services

Introduction.- Public Service Provision and Participation: Foundations and Germany’s Position in Comparison with Different Countries.- Securing Public Service Provision through Spatial Planning and Public Transport Planning.- Challenges in Securing Public Service Provision in Public Transport.- Approaches to Securing Public Service Provision in Public Transport.- Presentation of a New Potential Solution: The Use of Autonomous Driving in Public Transport in Germany.- Identification of Research Needs: The Potential Contribution of Autonomous Public Transport to Securing Public Service Provision.- Selection of the Study Areas.- Introduction to the Survey Methodology and Derivation of the Research Design.- Ensuring Public Service Provision from the Perspective of Public Transport Authorities in Lower Saxony.- In-Depth Analysis of Local Transport Plans in Lower Saxony.- Development of an Indicator System for Evaluating Public Transport Connections.- Application of the Indicator System in the Study Areas.- Development of Autonomous Public Transport Concepts to Secure Public Service Provision.- Conducting Focus Groups to Validate the Developed Autonomous Public Transport Service Concepts.- Identification of Success Factors for the Implementation of Autonomous Public Transport Services in Germany.- Overall Conclusion of the Research Project.- Critical Reflection, Recommendations for Planning Practice, Outlook.