Analysing the ride sharing behaviour in ICT based cab services: A case of Mumbai, India

Abstract

The land passenger transport sector lies on the cusp of a major transformation, guided by last mile connectivity, digital technology, and collaborative consumption. The recent emergence of transportation network companies, in tier-I cities of developing countries, which provide economically and environmentally convenient sharing services over the last decade motivates this research. The objective of this research is to find the extent to which different considerations persuade people to choose non-sharing rides over sharing rides so that policy recommendations for a modal shift from a non-sharing service to a sharing service can be suggested. A revealed preference survey was conducted in the city of Mumbai capturing information on an individual’s travel patterns, socio-economic characteristics, and attitudes. A novel methodological framework was conceptualized to test the impact of these socio-economic, attitudinal, and other underlying factors on sharing of cab rides. The framework was then tested using structural equation modelling (SEM). The results showcased that latent variables for ‘socio-economic status’ and ‘spending propensity’ negatively impacted sharing. Meanwhile, travel characteristics such as the number of companions and how they value comfort in a ride also had significant negative impacts on sharing choice. The findings of the study were then used to discuss policy recommendations for the modal shift from non-sharing to sharing services.