Sep. 29, 2022
Release
Ishikari City, Hokkaido Chuo Bus Co., Ltd. (hereinafter, “Chuo Bus”), Daikokukotsu Co., Ltd (hereinafter, “Daikokukotsu”), Sanwakotsu Co., Ltd (hereinafter, “Sanwakotsu”), Ishikari Bay New Port Complex Liaison Council (hereinafter, “Liaison Council”), Marubeni Corporation (hereinafter, “Marubeni”), Moovit App Global, Ltd. (hereinafter, “Moovit”), and TMJ Inc. (hereinafter, “TMJ”) will jointly launch a trial operation of an on-demand transit service in Ishikari City from October 2022 until March 2023 (hereinafter, the “Trial Operation”).
Ishikari City, with its proximity to Sapporo City, its vital port “Ishikari Bay New Port,” and its 3,000 ha Ishikari Bay New Port Area, plays an important role in the industry and distribution sectors of Hokkaido. There are currently more than 700 companies located in the Ishikari Bay New Port Area and more than 20,000 employees working there during the day. However, less than 2% of these employees use public transportation on their commute to the area, with most relying on private cars (about 68%) and buses individually arranged by local companies (about 30%). Therefore, the introduction of new public transportation services has become a significant challenge for the city. In urban areas (such as city centers), the number of bus users as well as the number of buses themselves have also been decreasing due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On-demand transportation is a new transportation service that has been attracting attention in recent years as a new means of transportation that combines the convenience of taxis with the efficiency of public buses by utilizing IoT and AI technologies. Ishikari City is also considering the introduction of a new transportation service utilizing a state-of-the-art on-demand transportation system as a measure to address the above-mentioned issues.
Eight companies will jointly operate the Trial Operation to gather feedback from Ishikari citizens, workers in the Ishikari Bay New Port Area, and local transport operators who will operate the service, and aim to introduce a sustainable transportation service that meets the needs of the local community.
Roles in the Trial Operation:
Name of Service:“Itsumo”The name is an acronym for the service’s concept: “Itsudemo Tsunagaru Mobility”—in English, “Always Connected Mobility.” The following service logo will be displayed on the vehicles in operation and on a dedicated smartphone app for users.
Overview of the Trial Operation:The Trial Operation will provide two services: the “Commuter On-Demand” service for commuting to the Ishikari Bay New Port Area, and the “City On-Demand” service for travel within the city center. Both services can be reserved and used with the same “Itsumo App.”**Reservations can also be made by phone (limited to the City On-Demand service).
Details of each service:
How to use each service:
Bookings can be made through the Itsumo App or by phone (calls to the customer center) Itsumo App:Available at Apple App Store and Google Play Store
Customer Center: +81 120-994946 (Planned opening: October 3, 2022)
Inquiries:Please use the following contact information if you have any inquiries.
Transport Project, Planning Sec., Planning & Economic Dept., Ishikari CityEmail: ki-kotsu@city.ishikari.hokkaido.jpTEL: 0133-72-3193Official Website: https://ishikari-itsumo.jp/
