The domain of flexible transport services (FTS) covers a broad range of mobility products usually - but not necessarily - operated by moderate and/or small capacity vehicles. The distinguishing feature of FTS is that one or more of the dimensions of the service can be adjusted to meet the actual needs of the users. This means that the route can be designed for the specific requests of the users for that specific trip, the time of departure or arrival could be brought forward or delayed to suit the customers, a bigger or smaller vehicle could be used depending on the number of passengers, and a specifically equipped vehicle or trained driver could be assigned if a customer has special needs.

Throughout Europe, a wide range of FTS has now been established, including:

• demand responsive transport (DRT) services for general use in rural areas;
• DRT services for general use in peri-urban and suburban areas;
• dedicated services for users who face difficulties using regular public transport (e.g. the elderly and disabled);
• flexible services to replace fixed-line services on evenings and weekends;
• flexible services serving destinations of special demand, e.g. airports, shopping precincts.

However, such transport services to date do not yet exploit the true potential of flexible collective mobility and further work is required on the knowledge acquisition, analysis and dispatching functions of the intermediate transport solutions that are required in the pursuit of sustainable mobility.