MOBILITY CLUB: A GRASS-ROOTS SMALL-TOWN TRANSPORT CONCEPT

The dispersion of relatively small numbers of people in rural environments is a substantial barrier to collective means of travel such as conventional bus service or demand-responsive transit. Accordingly, this paper proposes and analyzes an approach based on ride sharing in private automobiles that might provide significant relief for the problems of rural immobility. This solution, termed a mobility club, can be implemented within the work-force and financial resources of most small towns and rural communities. Trip desires of individuals without automobiles are matched to the trip-making intentions of persons with automobiles by the mobility club telephone dispatcher or ride broker. A companion feature is the method proposed for increasing the number of "travel friends," that is, the number of persons who are well enough acquainted to trust traveling together. This paper discusses the operational, administrative, and institutional aspects of the mobility club concept. An example is presented to illustrate the magnitude of the potential driver-member supply and trip-making desires of residents without automobiles in a sample rural and small-town environment. Operating expenses, fare structures, and subsidy considerations are outlined. Some simple steps to assist individuals who may wish to start a mobility club are given.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/559/559-009.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=MOBILITY+CLUB%3A+A+GRASS-ROOTS+SMALL-TOWN+TRANSPORT+CONCEPT&author=R.+Yukubousky&author=D.+Fichter&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309024676
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on New Transportation Systems and Technology. 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.
• Authors:
  • Yukubousky, Richard
  • Fichter, Donn
• Conference:
  • 54th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia
  • Date: 1975-1-13 to 1975-1-17
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 89-100
• Monograph Title: Transit Planning
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 559
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Administration; Captive riders; Carpools; Mobility; Private transportation; Rural areas; Small towns; Trip purpose
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00134684
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309024676
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jun 23 1981 12:00AM