Feasibility of a gender-driven paratransit service at Sapienza University of Rome

Abstract

Problems of women harassment on transit are often reported by the local press, and the situation in Rome is no exception. This is a serious issue also for the Sapienza University of Rome female community, especially when commuting back home in the evening. A specifically night-dedicated transport service provided by Sapienza could be a solution, but the research questions behind are those of its acceptance and affordability for the so-called “Sapienza Women”, i.e. students, teaching and administrative staff, along with the profitability for Sapienza as its operator. This is the background for the feasibility of a gender-dedicated university-to-home paratransit service, called MinervaMove, from the Sapienza's main campus and other premises in city. The multistep methodology adopted relies on: i) the initial development of a series of questionnaires and focus groups targeted to assess travel preferences by the Sapienza women community; ii) the data process to highlight recurring patterns and origin/destination sets, and create the service coverage area; iii) the service design; and iv) eventually, the analysis of the profitability of the service. From an initial investigation on Sapienza female population, the acceptance for a women-only-dedicated Sapienza night transport service was full, giving a positive answer to the first research question. This led develop the MinervaMove multi-option night supply, i.e. a station service starting from the main campus of Sapienza to Rome's two main railway stations, plus a door-to-door shared taxi service also originating at the main campus. MinervaMove also provides a daytime service supplied to the entire Sapienza community (men and women). Within the methodology, two different scenarios (A-optimistic and B-pessimistic) were developed to generate an appropriate service in terms of operational performance and affordability, with also scenario B enabling the generation of revenues.