Dynamics in residential relocation, car ownership, and carsharing adoption in neighborhoods with a high prevalence of carsharing

Abstract

Many studies have looked into the private car ownership and residential environment factors that affect current carsharing adoption from a cross-sectional perspective, while very few have focused on dynamic variables related to home relocation and changes in vehicle access. Using survey data collected in eight typical neighborhoods with a high level of carsharing in Utrecht, the Netherlands, this study explored how dynamics in car ownership, residential relocation, and current carsharing membership are related, and how this relationship shapes intention for future carsharing membership. The explanatory variables were the changes in residential location, and past and expected changes in private car ownership. Results of our binary logistic regression and ordinary least squares regression modeling show that residential relocation has a limited effect on carsharing adoption: Newcomers from lower urbanization level neighborhoods need some time to get used to carsharing and adopt it. For car ownership dynamics, future intentions to change private car ownership are more likely to affect current and future carsharing adoption than previous changes: Previous and future changes in car ownership and carsharing adoption have different effects on actual and expected behaviors. Our study shows that different functional goals of carsharing services for different types of potential users should be distinguished.