Dynamic Ridesharing: Exploration of Potential for Reduction in Vehicle Miles Traveled

It is widely recognized that new vehicle and fuel technologies are necessary but not sufficient to meet deep greenhouse gas reduction goals in the United States. Demand management strategies, such as land use, transit, and auto pricing policies, are also needed. These measures, however, have historically faced political challenges and have been difficult to implement. Emerging ridesharing systems now suggest the possibility of a new demand management strategy that may be more politically palatable and reduce the number of vehicle miles traveled (VMT). To date, however, little research has evaluated their potential travel effects, especially on a regional scale. This study used the San Francisco, California, Bay Area activity-based travel demand model to simulate business-as-usual, transit-oriented development, and auto pricing scenarios with and without high, medium, and low ridesharing participation levels. The analysis suggests that relatively large VMT reductions are possible from moderate and high participation levels, but at low participation levels, VMT reductions are negligible. Moderate dynamic ridesharing alone compares favorably, with a 9% reduction in VMT, to transit-oriented development and auto pricing scenarios. The analysis also suggests a potentially promising policy combination: a moderately used regional dynamic ridesharing system with a 10- to 30-cent increase in the per mile cost of auto travel, which together may reduce VMT on the order of 11% to 19%.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3141/2542-15
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309441469
• Authors:
  • Rodier, Caroline
  • Alemi, Farzad
  • 0000-0003-4333-3393
  • Smith, Dylan
• Publication Date: 2016

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 120–126
• Monograph Title: Public Transportation, Volume 4: Paratransit, Accessibility, Mobility, and the Sharing Economy
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2542
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Environmental protection; Ridesharing; Simulation; Travel demand; Vehicle miles of travel
• Geographic Terms: San Francisco Bay Area
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01590288
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309441469
• Report/Paper Numbers: 16-4203
• Files: PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 16 2016 2:36PM