Abstract
To improve the sustainability and efficiency of transport systems, communities and government agencies throughout the United States (US) are looking for ways to reduce vehicle ownership and single-occupant trips by encouraging people to shift from driving to using more sustainable transport modes (such as ridesharing). Ridesharing is a cost-effective, sustainable and effective alternative transportation mode that is beneficial to the environment, the economy and society. Despite the potential effect of vehicle ownership on the adoption of ridesharing services, individuals’ ridesharing behaviors and the interdependencies between vehicle ownership and ridesharing usage are not well understood. This study aims to fill the gap by examining the associations between household vehicle ownership and the frequency and probability of ridesharing usage, and to estimate the effects of household vehicle ownership on individuals’ ridesharing usage in the US. We conducted zero-inflated negative binomial regression models using data from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey. The results show that, in general, one-vehicle reduction in households was significantly associated with a 7.9% increase in the frequency of ridesharing usage and a 23.0% increase in the probability of ridesharing usage. The effects of household vehicle ownership on the frequency of ridesharing usage are greater for those who live in areas with a higher population density than those living in areas with a lower population density. Young people, men, those who are unable to drive, individuals with high household income levels, and those who live in areas with rail service or a higher population density, tend to use ridesharing more frequently and are more likely to use it. These findings can be used as guides for planners or practitioners to better understand individuals’ ridesharing behaviors, and to identify policies and interventions to increase the potential of ridesharing usage, and to decrease household vehicle ownership, depending on different contextual features and demographic variables. Comprehensive strategies that limit vehicle ownership and address the increasing demand for ridesharing have the potential to improve the sustainability of transportation systems.
Highlights
Many countries around the world have committed to lowering their greenhouse gas emissions, which mainly originate from the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation
We examined the relationships between household vehicle ownership and the frequency of ridesharing usage, and the probability of ridesharing usage
As associations between ridesharing usage and household vehicle ownership are influenced by population density, we constructed zero-inflated negative binomial regression models (ZINB) models to examine how the relationships vary by population density, and the results showed that people who lived in areas with higher population density were more sensitive to household vehicle ownership than those living in areas with lower population density
Summary
Many countries around the world have committed to lowering their greenhouse gas emissions, which mainly originate from the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation. Reported that, in 2016, the transportation sector accounted for the largest share (28.5%) of greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., CO2, CH4, and N2O) in the US, and these emissions primarily originated from the burning of fossil fuels for passenger cars (41.6%), freight trucks (22.9%), light-duty trucks (18.0%), aircrafts (9.1%), ships and boats (2.3%), trains (2.2%), and pipeline operations (2.1%). Single-occupant trips generate several negative externalities, such as low vehicle occupancy rates, leading to low car use efficiency, severe traffic congestion, and higher per capita gas emissions. To reduce the negative consequences of car travel and to improve the sustainability and efficiency of transport systems, changes should be implemented to reduce vehicle ownership and single-occupant trips, and governments should encourage and convince people to abandon the use of private cars for the use of public transit or ridesharing [3]
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