STATISTICAL CONTROLS IN RIDESHARING DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS

The application of scientific experimental designs in ridesharing demonstrations is discussed. A review of typical designs, particularly those that use test and control groups and over-time observations of behavior, suggests that the numerous problems that jeopardize the validity of studies could be reduced or eliminated. Nine possible outcomes of demonstrations are reviewed and interpreted against the need for experimental designs. Two applications in the ridesharing area are then described: one conducted during a period of rapid background change (1979 energy crisis) and the other in a recent period of stability (1981). In both cases (conducted at employer and community sites in the Albany, New York, area), the use of a control group and before-and-after backgroung surveys permitted isolation of the true effects of the demonstration. In the first case (1979 energy crisis), this included the direct effect of the program (from coordinator records), indirect effects (from the existence of the ridesharing program itself), and external effects (from the energy crisis). In the second case (stable background), the indirect and external effects were found to be negligible. From this study it is concluded that the use of scientific designs in ridesharing analysis should be increased and expanded.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1983/914/914-001.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=STATISTICAL+CONTROLS+IN+RIDESHARING+DEMONSTRATION+PROGRAMS&author=D.+Hartgen&author=J.+Brunso&publication_year=1983
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309035570
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appeared in Transportation Research Record No. 914, Transportation Innovations: Ridesharing Techniques and Public-Private Cooperation. See also TRIS 366928, UMTRIS 8202 Bulletin, Subject Area 32 page 114. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Ridesharing.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

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  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Hartgen, David T
  • Brunso, Joanna M
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1-9
• Monograph Title: TRANSPORTATION INNOVATIONS: RIDESHARING TECHNIQUES AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE COOPERATION
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 914
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis; Employers; Energy resources; Ridesharing; Statistics; Travel behavior
• Uncontrolled Terms: Energy crisis
• Geographic Terms: New York (State)
• Old TRIS Terms: Analytical method
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Energy; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00381497
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309035570
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Feb 29 1984 12:00AM