Improving mobility where fixed-route transport can’t reach
🚍In the inland areas of Dugopolje, Dicmo and Trilj, public transport options are scarce and irregular. Distances are long, demand is low and scattered, and traditional bus lines are not financially viable. For many residents — especially older adults — this has meant limited access to doctors, shops, workplaces and administrative services.
👉 As part of the EU-funded DREAM_PACE project, Split–Dalmatia County decided to test a different approach: a flexible, demand-responsive service supported by the Nemi platform. The goal was simple: provide a reliable transport option where none existed, and understand whether on-demand mobility could realistically support the county’s long-term mobility strategy.
The pilot — branded “From City to City” — ran from May to September 2025, with two minibuses operating on two semi-flexible routes.
A service designed around local needs
Routes that bend to demand
The two vehicles operated along predefined corridors with 40+ existing bus stops. Drivers followed the fixed route only when there was at least one request in that area. Otherwise, they shortened the loop, cutting unnecessary kilometres and fuel.
Three booking channels
Residents could request transport via:
- the Nemi mobile app,
- a phone call directly to the driver,
- or in person at the stop if capacity was available.
Phone booking was expected to be important in these rural communities — and it was.
What happened during the pilot
Usage at a glance
- 298 passengers
- 261 completed trips
- ~1 passenger per trip on average
- 34,753 km travelled in total
- 148 trips in Dugopolje/Dicmo and 113 in Trilj
How people booked
- 93% of rides were requested by phone
- 7% via the mobile app
- App confirmations had a lower conversion rate (17%) compared to phone calls (96%), reflecting user habits and digital familiarity.
Why residents used the service
Survey results (57 respondents, collected on board):
- 33% – visiting the doctor
- 30% – leisure and social activities
- commuting, shopping, and administrative errands followed.
For many, this was their first alternative to relying on friends, relatives or informal lifts.
User experience and satisfaction
Despite low digital adoption, satisfaction with the service was extremely high:
- 93% rated overall satisfaction 5/5
- 95% rated drivers’ courtesy and professionalism 5/5
- 84% rated vehicle comfort and cleanliness 5/5
- 83% said the service reduced their private car use
- 93% would recommend the service to others
Wait times were short:
over 75% of passengers waited less than 20 minutes.
Quotes from users
I finally have a way to reach the doctor without asking neighbours for a lift
The drivers are extremely kind and helpful — this makes all the difference
Even if I call by phone, the service works exactly when I need it
Marketing and outreach
A targeted digital campaign ran from August to mid-September:
- 216,334 people reached
- 307,502 ad impressions
Engagement was highest among adults aged 25–34, confirming that younger residents were the most responsive to the campaign.
A parallel communication effort targeted 288 local businesses, providing instructions, stop lists and promotional material for employees.
What the pilot showed
The five-month test demonstrated that DRT can realistically support rural accessibility, even in very low-density contexts. Three insights stood out:
- Phone-based access is essential.
While digitalisation is important, most users still rely on human interaction. A future call centre would significantly improve adoption. - Promotional work changes usage.
Demand grew after communication campaigns and on-street visibility increased. - Residents recognise the value immediately.
The service was used for essential trips — healthcare above all — showing that DRT can meaningfully reduce social and physical isolation.
Looking ahead
The Mikroprijevoz Zagora experience gives Split–Dalmatia County a solid template for future rollouts:
- a fully tested procurement modelreal operational data
- clear understanding of user habits
- and proof that demand-responsive transport can fill real mobility gaps.
For Nemi, the pilot confirms that flexible, human-friendly technology can work even where digital adoption is modest — as long as the service design respects local habits and constraints.
