Require public GOFS feed for DRT MDS Providers

[carlfredl]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.

Currently, MDS successfully leverages complimentary open data standards to provide public-facing transparency. A strong example is the requirement for micromobility providers to publish a public GBFS feed as part of their MDS compliance. Similar synergies to drive open standards adoption are not yet leveraged for demand-responsive transportation.

Describe the solution you'd like

Update the MDS Provider requirements to state:

Providers offering on-demand services (e.g., TNC, taxi, microtransit) via MDS MUST provide a publicly accessible GOFS discovery endpoint.

Is this a breaking change

• No, not breaking. This functions as a requirement for a supplementary public endpoint, similar to existing GBFS requirements, and does not alter the structure of current MDS endpoints.

Impacted Spec

For which spec is this feature being requested?

• provider

Describe alternatives you've considered

• Not adding guidance at this time, leaving the opportunity untapped.
• Adding exhaustive discovery fields directly into MDS, but this would bloat the specification; leveraging GOFS as a complimentary feed (the "GBFS model") is the more efficient and modular approach.

Additional context

This proposal stems from a discussion with @schnuerle regarding the natural evolution of MDS as it expands beyond micromobility. By mirroring the GBFS requirement for DRT modes, MDS can ensure that "Provider" compliance automatically supports the broader open data ecosystem. This alignment simplifies the technical requirements for operators while providing immediate value to public-facing mapping aplications.