Ensuring access to essential public services is one of the key challenges facing rural regions. Reliable public transport is crucial to maintaining access to central services and facilities, yet significant gaps remain despite the introduction of a wide range of flexible transport solutions. At the same time, advances in autonomous driving are creating new opportunities to improve public transport and strengthen the provision of essential public services.
This book explores the potential of autonomous public transport, particularly in rural areas, to address these challenges. Focusing on the perspectives of public transport planning authorities responsible for designing and coordinating public transport networks, it examines three key questions: How do planning authorities assess the current level of public transport provision in relation to essential public services? Where do public transport stakeholders see the greatest potential for autonomous transport services? And which factors and framework conditions are critical to their successful implementation?
By combining these perspectives, the study provides new insights into the role autonomous public transport can play in supporting future-oriented public service provision. It offers valuable guidance for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to understand the opportunities and challenges of integrating autonomous mobility into public transport systems.

Jonas Lamberg works as a transportation scientist and spatial planner at Leibniz University Hannover, where his research focuses on autonomous driving and the provision of essential public services.