Aladino Bus Expands On-Demand Public Transport in Montagna Reggiana

Aladino Bus, the on-demand public transport service operating in Reggio Emilia, has expanded to a new area in Montagna Reggiana, powered by Shotl. The service now reaches the municipalities of Castelnovo ne’ Monti and Villa Minozzo, extending flexible public transport to a mountainous and lower-density territory where mobility needs are often more dispersed.

The expansion builds on the existing Aladino Bus service in Reggio Emilia, which began operating with Shotl in July 2024. Its continued performance helped support the decision to bring the same demand-responsive transport model to a new service area.

A New DRT Service Area for Montagna Reggiana

The new Aladino Bus area became operational on May 4 and is available through the same Aladino Bus app. Users can book their trips directly from their mobile devices, making it easier to access public transport without relying exclusively on fixed routes or fixed timetables.

During the first month of operation, the service is free for all users. From June 4 onwards, the regular public transport fare applies.

With this expansion, Aladino Bus now serves several towns and villages across Montagna Reggiana, including Castelnovo ne’ Monti, Croce, Campolungo, Berzana, Casale, Vologno, Sologno, Cerrè Sologno, Minozzo, Villa Minozzo and Razzolo, among others.

Why Demand-Responsive Transport Matters in Mountainous Areas

In mountainous and lower-density territories, mobility demand is often spread across multiple towns, villages and local routes. This can make it difficult to serve every journey efficiently with traditional fixed-route public transport alone.

Demand-responsive transport offers a more flexible model. Instead of operating vehicles on the same route regardless of demand, the service adapts to real booking requests. This helps reduce unnecessary mileage while giving residents and visitors a public transport option that can respond more closely to their daily mobility needs.

For areas such as Montagna Reggiana, this type of service can improve access between smaller communities, local centres and essential services, while supporting a more efficient use of public transport resources.

Building on the Existing Aladino Bus Service

The launch in Montagna Reggiana follows the original Aladino Bus deployment in Reggio Emilia, which began operating with Shotl in July 2024. The expansion shows how a demand-responsive transport model can be adapted to different territorial contexts, from urban or peri-urban environments to more dispersed and mountainous areas.

By using the same Aladino Bus app, the new service area also gives users a familiar digital booking experience while allowing the operator and public authorities to manage the service through a flexible on-demand mobility platform.

A Public Mobility Project with Local Partners

The project is promoted by the Agenzia Mobilità di Reggio Emilia, in collaboration with the Unione dei Comuni, the municipalities of Villa Minozzo and Castelnovo ne’ Monti, and SETA.

This collaboration reflects the role that public authorities, local municipalities, operators and technology providers can play in designing transport services that respond to the specific needs of each territory.

Another Step Toward More Flexible Public Transport

The expansion of Aladino Bus in Montagna Reggiana marks another step in bringing on-demand public transport to communities where flexible mobility can make a practical difference.

By combining local public transport objectives with Shotl’s demand-responsive transport technology, the service supports a more accessible and efficient mobility model for areas where fixed-route services may not always be the best fit.

Planning an on-demand public transport service? Shotl helps public transport authorities and operators launch DRT services adapted to rural, urban and low-density territories. Get in touch with our team to explore how demand-responsive transport can improve accessibility in your community.