The Spare platform provides powerful tools to customize which multimodal trip options are presented to your riders. This allows you to prioritize specific services, ensure rider convenience, and manage eligibility for different transit modes.
Here are the three primary ways you can control multimodal trip planning:
1. Prioritize Fixed Routes (Anti-Cannibalization)
This tool helps you encourage riders to use your fixed-route services (like bus or rail) when it provides a convenient alternative to an on-demand trip. You can set criteria for what your agency considers a "preferable" fixed-route option.
If a fixed-route trip meets all the conditions you set, the system will automatically hide on-demand options from the rider.
Location: Find these settings under Multimodal Settings > Advanced.
Conditions: You can enable "Hide on-demand options from riders when there are preferable fixed route options" and then define the criteria. A fixed-route option must meet all checked conditions to be considered "preferable":
A maximum of [X] transfers (e.g., 0)
Less than [X] minutes total walking duration (e.g., 5)
Less than [X]% of the duration of the best on-demand option (e.g., 100%)
If booked for a Leave-At time, departs within [X] minutes after the requested time
If booked for an Arrive-By time, arrives within [X] minutes before the requested time
2. Set Maximum Acceptable Walking Distance
This setting prevents the trip planner from suggesting overly long walks for the first or last leg of a journey, especially when an on-demand service could be used instead.
For example, the algorithm might suggest a 700-meter walk to a transit stop. If you want to offer an on-demand ride for that leg instead, you can set a maximum walking distance.
How it works: If the first or last leg of a multimodal journey involves walking and is greater than the max acceptable walking distance you set (e.g., 800 meters), the system will try to provide a direct on-demand journey as an alternative.
3. Restrict Transit Modes per User (Automated Eligibility)
If you use Automated Eligibility Management (e.g., through "Memberships") to control what services different users can access, you can apply these rules to multimodal trip planning.
How it works: In a user's eligibility or membership profile, you can set Transit Mode Restrictions. Simply check the boxes for all transit modes (e.g., Bus, Rail, On Demand, Ferry) that the user is approved to use.
Result: That user will only see trip options—including multimodal journeys—that are composed exclusively of their approved modes. For example, if "Rail" is unchecked, the user will not be shown any trip options that include a rail leg.