SELF-DRIVE TAXI SYSTEMS: A PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY STUDY

THIS REPORT DEALS WITH A SIMULATION OF SELF-DRIVE TAXI OPERATIONS IN CENTRAL LONDON, USING DATA FROM THE 1971 LONDON TRAFFIC SURVEY, DESIGNED TO EXAMINE THE KEY FACTORS AFFECTING FEASIBILITY, VIZ: FLEET UTILIZATION, PARKING SPACE REQUIREMENTS, AND THE NEED FOR PERIODIC RELOCATION, OR REDISTRIBUTION, OF TAXI VEHICLES AMONG THE VARIOUS TERMINALS OF THE SYSTEM. THESE THREE FACTORS WERE FOUND TO BE CLOSELY INTER-RELATED AND, WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE ASSUMPTIONS MADE REGARDING RELOCATION, THE OVERALL FLEET TIME UTILIZATION WAS FOUND TO BE SOMEWHAT BELOW THAT OF CONVENTIONAL TAXIS, WHEREAS THE PARKING SPACE REQUIREMENT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER. HOWEVER, THE ECONOMIES RESULTING FROM THE ELIMINATION OF A PAID DRIVER AND OF SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER NON-REVENUE EARNING MILEAGE, MIGHT WELL MAKE THE U-DRIVE TAXI ECONOMICALLY VIABLE IN CERTAIN CAREFULLY SELECTED SITUATIONS. OTHER SOMEWHAT LESS IMPORTANT FACTORS, SUCH AS THE TIME AVAILABLE FOR VEHICLE SERVICING BETWEEN TRIPS AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WALKING TIMES AND TERMINAL SPACING, ARE ALSO EXAMINED. SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE FOR FURTHER REFINEMENTS TO THE SIMULATION TECHNIQUE AND FOR OPERATIONAL CHANGES THAT COULD RESULT IN IMPROVED EFFICIENCY. AN ANALYSIS OF CONVENTIONAL TAXI TRIPS IN CENTRAL LONDON IS INCLUDED IN APPENDIX 2. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PARKING ENVISAGED AT THE U-DRIVE TAXI TERMINALS IS GIVEN IN APPENDIX 3. (A).

• Corporate Authors:

  Transport and Road Research Laboratory

  Environment Division, Old Wokingham Road
  Crowthorne RG11 6AU, Berkshire,   England 
• Authors:
  • Beaumonte, D H
• Publication Date: 0

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 52 p.
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: SR3

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economic efficiency; Economic factors; Economics; Energy; Feasibility analysis; Fleet management; Intermodal terminals; Parking; Parking demand; Private transportation; Simulation; Taxicab drivers; Taxicabs; Traffic surveys; Transportation; Travel; Urban transportation; Utilization
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency; Fleets; Terminus
• ITRD Terms: 643: Capacity (road, footway); 916: Car park; 9011: Design (overall design); 8673: Digital computer; 9014: Dimension; 263: Economics of transport; 5911: Efficiency; 425: Exit; 698: Journey; 955: Parking; 272: Payment; 9103: Simulation; 485: T junction; 1148: Taxi; 671: Traffic flow
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Planning and Forecasting; Transportation (General); I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00080476
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: TRRL Rep. 38 UC Series Rpt
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 11 1982 12:00AM