User reaction to car-share and lift-share within a transport 'marketplace'

User-centred design methods were used to understand the key motivators, potential constraints and design requirements associated with an innovative shared-vehicle scheme, offered as an integral component of a wider ‘transport marketplace’. A set of situated user trials were used to assess attitudinal and behavioural responses to a prototype service implemented in northern France. Potential motivators included the perceived benefits of reduced cost, environmental benefit, social contact and the provision of location-based information. The key barriers to adoption included: personal security during vehicle sharing, liability and flexibility in meeting individual transport needs. Contrary to initial indications by participants, ease of use was also a key acceptance criterion. The resulting design recommendations stress the need for maximising service flexibility, addressing perceived barriers and providing clarity regarding operational procedures and protocols

Giving and sharing in the computer-mediated economy

The paper examines how digital technology mediates the behaviour of consumers in three online systems that facilitate offline gift giving and sharing (Freecycle, Couchsurfing, and Landshare). Findings derived from a netnography and depth interviews reveal how technology is used to enact and influence the management of identity, partner selection, ritual normalisation, and negotiation of property rights. The findings have significant implications for the design and management of systems that encourage non-monetary forms of collaborative consumption

Arizona trails 2010 : a statewide motorized and non-motorized recreational trails plan

abstract: This planning document details the results of extensive surveys of Arizonans’ thoughts, preferences and priorities regarding trails and off-highway vehicle routes. Throughout the year 2008, staff at Arizona State Parks and faculty at Arizona State University partnered to solicit information from more than 5,500 Arizonans about what types of motorized or non-motorized trails they use, how often they use trails, what they like or don’t like about trails, and what trail managers should focus their time and dollars on to make the trail experience better

Sustainable Transportation At The University Of Central Florida: Evaluation Of Ucf Rideshare Program, Zimride

As the second-largest university in the United States, UCF has experienced the largest enrollment in its history. A more densely populated campus has in turn caused increased traffic congestion. Despite increased parking permit fees and newly constructed parking garages, traveling and parking on campus is unpredictable. In effort to reduce congestion on campus, a rideshare program was implemented in Summer 2010. Several universities across the nation have successfully used carpooling as a viable alternative mode to manage traffic and parking demand. This thesis evaluates the UCF rideshare program, Zimride, using stated- and revealed-preference surveys. Preliminary results indicate most students prefer to commute to campus using their own car and without incentives there is no reason to change mode choice, regardless of associated costs—e.g. decal cost, parking time and frustration. Despite 70% of respondents considering themselves environmentally friendly and over 80% are aware of savings in money and productive by using alternative modes, 70% still use their car to commute to campus. Using Explanatory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the observed variables were organized into three (3) latent variables based on the correlation among them. The SEM results of the revealed-preference survey indicate current travel behavior significantly influences attitudes towards carpooling and demographics have a significant effect on current travel behavior. It was also found that demographics influences attitudes towards carpooling at a non statistically significant level

Software-Anforderungen und Nachhaltigkeit als Elemente von Software-Qualität

Zentraler Punkt der Verkehrsproblematik ist die hohe Staubelastung, vor allem im Berufsverkehr. Diese Situation ließe sich durch eine Erhöhung des Besetzungsgrades pro PKW verbessern. Eine Vielzahl der Pendler fährt alleine, obwohl besonders in diesem Kontext viele Personen regelmäßig denselben oder einen ähnlichen Weg fahren und dadurch Fahrgemeinschaften möglich wären. Zur Lösung dieser Problematik wird ein persuasive System namens Route Match zur Unterstützung der Bildung von Fahrgemeinschaften geplant. Im Laufe des Dokumentes werden eine Literaturrecherche, eine Kontextanalyse, zwei empirische Erhebungen und eine Anforderungsspezifizierung für Route Match durchgeführt. Darauf aufbauend wird ein sutainability analysis Framework angewendet und erste Prototypen erstellt. Das Ergebnis sind 138 Requirements, Qualitätsanforderungen und einige Protoypen. Route Match ist eine einfache und kostengünstige Möglichkeit den Autoverkehr zu reduzieren und dadurch die Umwelt positiv zu beeinflussen. Die meisten anderen Ansätze beruhen auf der Entwicklung von neuen Transportmitteln oder dem Ausbau der öffentlichen Verkehrsnetze und des Straßennetzes.The main point of the problematic traffic situations are the high occurence of traffic congestion, especially during commuter traffic. Raising the count of passenger per car could relieve this problem. Most commuters travel alone, even though the conditions would allow them to form carpools. This solution presents a persuasive system named Route Match to assist the formation of carpools. Throughout this document there are literature research, contextual analysis, two empiric surveys and requirement engineering take place. Based on this a sustainability analysis framework was applied and first prototypes were designed. The outcome is 138 requirements, quality requirements and a few prototypes. Route Match is a simple and affordable possibility to reduce the amount of traffic and positively affect the environment. Other solutions are mostly based on developing new means of transportation or the expansion of public transport grids and the road system

DYNAMIC RIDESHARE OPTIMIZED MATCHING PROBLEM

This dissertation develops a Dynamic Rideshare Optimized Matching (DROM) model and solution that is aimed at identifying suitable matches between passengers requesting rideshare services with appropriate drivers available to carpool for credits and HOV lane privileges. DROM receives passengers and drivers' information and preferences continuously over time and maximizes the overall system performance subject to ride availability, capacity, rider and driver time window constraints, and detour and relocation distances while considering users' preferences. The research develops a spatial, temporal, and hierarchical decomposition solution strategy that leads to the heuristic solution procedure. Three-Spherical Heuristic Decomposition Model (TSHDM). Quality and validity tests for the TSHDM algorithm are done by comparison of results between the exact and implemented algorithm solutions and major sensitivity analyses using the technique of Regression Analysis on all of the related parameters in the model are conducted to thoroughly investigate the properties of the proposed model and solution algorithm. A case study is constructed to analyze the model and TSHDM behaviors on a road network of northwest metropolitan area of Baltimore city. The study shows that however DROM is a very complicated and challenging problem from both mathematical formulation and solution algorithm perspectives, it is possible to implement a dynamic rideshare system using appropriate technical tools and social networking media. Major sensitivity analysis conducted on several parameters and variables affecting the model shows that most influencing factors for the rate of success in the rideshare system are, in order of importance: number of participating drivers, number of stops, area size, and number of participating riders. The study also shows rate of success for the rideshare system is highly dependent to the matched routes connecting directly points of origin and destination for participating riders and also increasing the number of connections from one to two which requires two consecutive change of rides for a rider has the least impact on the rate of success

Real-time ridesharing : exploring the opportunities and challenges of designing a technology-based rideshare trial for the MIT community

Thesis (S.M. in Transportation)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering; and, (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2010.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 181-188).The potential benefits from increased ridesharing are substantial, and impact a wide range of stakeholders. In a properly applied rideshare scheme, drivers and passengers achieve cost savings, they potentially achieve travel time savings, and they benefit from increased travel options. Employers can reduce expensive parking construction or leasing, and benefit from higher worker productivity. Society benefits from congestion reduction, energy security improvements, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and increased social equity. Unfortunately, ridesharing's historical success has been rather modest, with a substantial decrease in popularity since the 1970's and participation that remains near an all-time low. Clearly there is a disconnect between the purported benefits and the real or perceived challenges associated with sharing rides. This thesis asks why ridesharing is not more popular than current participation suggests, and what can be done to encourage greater participation going forward? After a review of past and present rideshare initiatives, it becomes clear that there is no single challenge to be overcome that will increase interest and participation in ridesharing. Rather, the 'rideshare challenge' is a series of economic, behavioral, institutional and technological obstacles to be addressed. Yet, two opportunities show particular promise at helping overcome these challenges - a focus on large employers, and a technology-based service innovation known as "real-time" ridesharing. Large employers are a unique type of institution that can successfully influence private household travel decisions while simultaneously advancing employer-specific goals and various societal goals. "Real-time" ridesharing extends the range of existing rideshare options available to travelers and it begins to address a number of challenges associated with ridesharing. To increase rideshare participation going forward, this thesis proposes a detailed design for an employer based, technology-focused rideshare trial for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), supported by a rigorous, Institute-specific analysis of rideshare viability. The trial is designed to be expanded to other institutions in the MIT/Kendall Square area of Cambridge, MA in the future. The analysis suggests that on an ideal day, approximately 65% of consistent, single occupant commuters could share rides, leading to a 19% reduction in Institute-wide, commuting trip VMT. The trial design focuses on the use of technology, incentives and personalized marketing to overcome the 'rideshare challenge' and realize a significant portion of this best case VMT reduction.by Andrew M. Amey.M.C.P.S.M.in Transportatio