Unveiling the challenges and opportunities of autonomous bus integration in rural and suburban areas: An expert interview study

The autonomous vehicle (AV) industry is rapidly growing and presents new opportunities to enhance first-mile and last-mile (FMLM) in Public Transport (PT) services. This study investigates the potential applications of Autonomous Buses (ABs) in suburban and rural PT in Australia, examining both supply-side and demand-side perspectives through inductive thematic analysis. Eighteen in-depth interviews were conducted with transport experts from academia, consulting, industry associations, and government agencies. The analysis identifies key enablers and barriers for AB deployment in these contexts. ABs are conceptualized across four dimensions (vehicle size, personnel, propulsion, and PT role) and analysed through six key thematic areas: vehicle and technology, infrastructure, operations and network, regulatory, behavioural, and environmental factors. The findings highlight the importance of both technological and human factors in successful AB adoption. The results inform a proposed co-modal service concept integrating freight and passenger services. These insights provide guidance for policymakers and practitioners in planning and implementing AB-based mobility solutions in low-density areas.