Just in time for the anniversary of the software company ioki, the first fully integrated on-demand service based on ioki’s platform was launched in the city of Frankfurt. From now on, passengers in the four northern districts of Frankfurt – Bonames, Harheim, Nieder-Erlenbach and Nieder-Eschbach – can use the new, flexible, and emission-free local transport service called ‘Knut’. The ‘Knut’ service is part of Germany’s biggest on-demand project based on the smart platform developed by DB subsidiary ioki.

«Thanks to ioki’s intelligent software, the shuttles are always on the best and fastest route, automatically enable ride pooling and make booking via app very easy for passengers. Citizens in the north of Frankfurt thus have a great alternative to the car for the first and last mile to their front door or to the public transport stop,» said Dr. Michael Barillère-Scholz, CEO of ioki, who presented ‘Knut’ to the local public, together with the project partners Rhein-Main- Verkehrsverbund (RMV), TraffiQ and CleverShuttle, the Lord Mayor of Frankfurt Peter Feldmann as well as the head of the mobility department Stefan Majer.

Every day from five in the morning to one at night the three zero-emission ‘Knut’ shuttle buses travel to around 600 virtual stops and existing stops in the north of Frankfurt. Journeys between the districts are just as possible as journeys to transfer points, e.g. to the subway in the city center. In this way, the new public transportation service ensures mobility especially during off-peak hours. ‘Knut’ is operated by CleverShuttle, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn.

Digitization strengthens local transport in suburban areas

After Hamburg, Frankfurt is the second German metropolis where passengers can use on-demand services powered by ioki as an emission-free and flexible alternative to their own cars. Since 2018, on-demand shuttles called ioki Hamburg have already been a successful and innovative component of local public transport

in Hamburg. According to a study by the Technical University of Hamburg, 72 percent of the on-demand passengers use the service to get to the next stop or station. This feeder function is also to be assumed by ‘Knut’ in Frankfurt, thus enabling more public and integrated mobility with less traffic.

ioki is one of the leading platform providers for on-demand mobility in Europe and was able to prevail as a technology partner in a Europe-wide tender for the entire RMV on-demand project. ‘Knut’ is already the fourth shuttle service to be launched in the Rhine-Main region. A networked service is being created in a total of ten cities and districts, making the RMV on-demand project unique in Europe.

More information on the new on-demand service ‘Knut’ and the joint press release including quotes from the project partners involved can be found at traffiq.de.