AN ANALYSIS OF THE POTENTIAL FOR DYNAMIC RIDESHARING IN A LOW-DENSITY AREA

This report reflects the view that there is a significant reserve of capacity in the highway private automobile system that could be tapped through ridesharing. The authors suggest that, within limits, not only can the transportation system adapt to travel patterns, but travel patterns can be adapted to the transportation system and this adaptation can take place within the constraints established by patterns of our daily activities. It is also suggested that implementation of a ridesharing program such as described in this report would be simple and relatively risk-free. This research deals with activity patterns and their relation to travel needs in a rural area in eastern Connecticut (10-town Windham Planning Region). Of specific interest is the commonality of trip-making and the flexibility of activity patterns in both spatial and temporal terms. After identifying activity patterns, the research examines the inherent flexibility of these patterns. The potential for ridesharing is quantified using a series of scenarios defined by a set of assumptions regarding such items as participation rate, period of simulation and operational characteristics. The simulation using either the status quo occupancy or 4-person carpools reveals a broad range between a minimal reduction in vehicle miles of travel (3 to 4 percent) given in existing attitudes and the maximum reduction in vehicle miles of travel (40 percent). The results suggest that it would be reasonable to expect reductions between 12 and 25 percent given the degree of willingness to participate evidenced in the questionnaire response. (UMTA)

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Connecticut, Storrs

  Connecticut Transportation Institute
  179 Middle Turnpike
  Storrs, CT  United States  06269-5202

  Urban Mass Transportation Administration

  400 7th Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Davis, C F
  • Groff, W H
  • Steahr, T E
• Publication Date: 1981-6

Media Info

• Pagination: 142 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Carpools; Feasibility analysis; Implementation; Needs assessment; Ridesharing; Rural areas; Simulation; Transportation; Travel patterns; Vehicle miles of travel
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Transportation (General); I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00341275
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTA-CT-11-0001-81-1Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 28 1982 12:00AM