Via2G Microtransit Pilot Evaluation

Google partnered with Via to launch an on-demand microtransit called Via2G between January and March 2020. The pilot provided employees with free travel to/from two of its offices in suburban, congested Silicon Valley. While the pilot was cut short due to COVID-19, rider participation grew steadily during operation. Of trip requests, 8,636 (87.8%) resulted in a ride offer. Unfulfilled requests were primarily outside of pilot operating times or when rider demand exceeded driver supply. Most users (72%) completed at least two trips, although recurring users were less likely to complete errands on the commute and fewer had a car available for commuting compared to all surveyed Google employees. Prior to Via2G, two-thirds (66%) of survey respondents drove to work at least one day per week, while a plurality (42%) drove five days per week. Compared to non-participants, pilot users were more likely to take ride-hail (14 vs 22 percent) or the Google Bus (24 vs 30 percent) at least once a week prior to the pilot. Recommendations suggest iterations for Google or other centralized employers to consider in future microtransit programs.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.31979/mti.2021.2002
• Record URL:
  https://transweb.sjsu.edu/sites/default/files/2002-Brown-RB-Microtransit-Evaluation.pdf
• Corporate Authors:

  Mineta Transportation Institute

  College of Business
  San José State University
  San Jose, CA  United States  95192-0219

  Department of Transportation

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  California Department of Transportation

  Sacramento, CA  United States  95819
• Authors:
  • Brown, Anne
  • Grossman, Alice
  • Noble, Lucy
• Publication Date: 2021-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 38p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Commuting; Demand responsive transportation; Employer sponsored transportation; Mode choice; Pilot studies; Ridesharing; Surveys; Travel behavior
• Identifier Terms: Google (Firm)
• Geographic Terms: Mountain View (California); Sunnyvale (California)
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01774777
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 21-13, CA-MTI-2002
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 23 2021 2:35PM