Assessment of DRT Services in Peri-Urban Areas—The Case of Postojna, Slovenia

Peri-urban areas across Europe increasingly face mobility challenges resulting from dispersed settlement patterns, limited public transport, and high dependence on private vehicles. This chapter examines the implementation of a demand-responsive transport (DRT) pilot in the Municipality of Postojna, Slovenia, developed within the Interreg Euro-MED ArtMED project. Through a structured, three-phase methodology—needs assessment, co-design and implementation, and evaluation—the study outlines a practical framework for introducing flexible mobility services in low-density environments. The needs assessment combined a general mobility survey, a targeted questionnaire for parents of school children, and focus groups with local providers of extracurricular activities. Results revealed strong car dependency and significant transport burdens for families, but also a high openness to using DRT. Based on these findings, the Torbar DRT service was co-designed with municipal stakeholders, schools, activity providers, and a mobility technology partner. The service model prioritized safety, affordability, and usability, supported by a digital booking system, child safety notifications, and an accessible visual identity. Evaluation of the pilot indicated highly positive user reactions, with customer satisfaction reaching 4.9/5 and exceptionally strong Net Promoter Scores. Safety and reliability emerged as the most valued features. Nevertheless, users highlighted opportunities for improvement, including app usability and clearer communication. The chapter concludes by discussing the potential integration of autonomous mobility on demand services. While families show willingness to adopt human-operated DRT, trust in autonomous vehicles remains low, suggesting the need for a gradual, multistep introduction supported by regulation and public engagement. The Postojna case demonstrates that community-driven design, iterative evaluation, and flexible service configuration can enable effective mobility solutions in peri-urban contexts, offering a transferable model for other municipalities.