Page 16 - Dittmar Quarterly Q1 2019

QUARTERLY Q/1 – 2019
INNOVATION POWERHOUSE
Paving the Way for
a Mobility Revolution
Mobility as a Service, “MaaS”, is an emerging trend that is said to revolutionise the way people move and use different transport services. MaaS combines different types of digital and physical transportation services into a single mobility service. With the help of this customised door-to-door service, customers can easily purchase all different tickets needed for a multimodal travel chain, e.g., in one mobile application.
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Instead of creating new modes of transport, this one-shop-stop system aims at a more efficient use of existing public and private mobility services, which would eventually result in more flexible and sustainable transport services and decrease carbon emissions. To reach these goals, Finland wants to be at the forefront of the development of MaaS and has enacted special legislation to support the establishment of new business models. The Act on Transport Services (in Finnish, laki liikenteen palveluista) sets out new obligations for transport service providers regarding the interoperability of information and ticketing systems, as well as the openness of interfaces.
We at D&I are truly fascinated by MaaS and especially the surprisingly complex legal questions relating to it. We have already assisted the Finnish government and the competent supervisory authorities in assessing the various legal issues related to MaaS services and supported in the preparation of a code of conduct for mobility service operators. The following chapters give a brief overview of the different legal aspects that need to be considered when operating in the field of MaaS.
What are smart mobility platforms all about?
As a MaaS operator, you are the facilitator of different mobility services but you do not necessarily provide any transport services yourself. Your role may vary from a mere platform and intermediary for mobility services to an independent service provider guaranteeing an integrated and seamless travel chain from A to B.
When introducing new digital platforms and business models, being transparent about the nature of the service provided and the responsibilities of each party contributing to the services is essential in ensuring customer trust. Even if the MaaS operator’s role as a facilitator is crucial in enabling the purchase of a reliable and seamless travel chain, its liability towards users is much more limited when acting as a mere intermediary. This should not only be taken into account in communications with the customer, but also in agreements between the stakeholders.
Where not addressed by the market players, the uncertainty surrounding the new business models might, in the worst case, lower the potential customers’ eagerness to use the new services.
Passenger rights, passenger rights, passenger rights
Let’s imagine you are soon on your way to a long-awaited holiday. Before and during the journey, you will need to receive necessary information on possible changes to your trip. You probably want to know if the schedule has been changed and how this affects the other segments of the travel chain. If you require extra assistance, the service providers need to take care that the accessibility is secured during your whole journey – but who is responsible for the transfer between the airport and the bus station? If your flight is delayed, you are entitled to compensation – but what happens to the rental car booked through a MaaS service you could not pick up because of the delay?