Commuter segmentation and openness to sharing services : a Swiss case study

The transportation sector is experiencing increasing pressure from emerging megatrends. Digitalisation, individualisation and the aging of society are leading to increasing traffic, mobility demand and capacity shortages. At the same time, new mobility concepts and offers are under development. In this highly dynamic environment, decision-makers and transport planners are under pressure to react. As society requests new and more comfortable mobility services, car-as well as ridesharing are seen as a part of the solution. Tailor-made mobility services have the potential to meet customer needs and increase the acceptance and use of public transport. In order to better understand the needs, we propose a classification of the commuter society into easily distinguishable groups based on an extensive commuter survey conducted in the city of Basel, Switzerland. This classification should enable more precisely targeted policy measures that save costs and increase adoption of sustainable ways of commuting. Key parameters influencing users’ openness towards car- and ridesharing are derived through an ordinal logistic regression analysis. Together with the classification based on a cluster analysis, they serve as starting points for a sustainable transformation of the commuter environment. The paper further places the findings in context by discussing how recent trends in mobility could support acceptance of new mobility concepts. Successfully transforming today’s commuting realm requires a coordinated effort from both policy-makers and society itself, integrating new and innovative mobility solutions in a public–private form of cooperation

Trends, behaviour and system dynamics : guiding principles for transformation

Today, the transport sector is responsible for 32% of Switzerland’s CO2 emissions, making it the biggest CO2 emitter, ahead of the industry (20%). Therefore, the capacity area B2.1.2. aims at building a general understanding of the behaviour of mobility users and the Swiss mobility system with its components by developing a system dynamics based model and research about best practice. With empirical results on mobility attitudes and behaviour the model describes the interactions and feedbacks between the components of the Swiss mobility system affecting CO2 emissions. Together with the transformation framework and trends in mobility, we elaborate policy recommendations for the sustainable transformation of the Swiss mobility sector. The knowledge gained from this project is expected to accelerate the implementation of policies targeting the transformation of the current Swiss mobility system to a carbon‐neutral and energy efficient one

Transforming the Swiss mobility system : who are the future e-sharers?

The Swiss mobility system is undergoing a paradigm shift from fossil fuel based mobility to more carbon neutral and energy efficient ones. Yet, this transformation is still in its infancy. With the current trends of digitalisation new forms of mobility service emerge. Such service include the option of car and ridesharing as well as Mobility as a Service (MaaS) through easy-to-use mobile apps. In order to reach the CO2 target defined by the Swiss energy strategy in 2050, a key point is the electrification of passenger cars. To achieve this, it is suggested that MaaS and e-sharing platforms could foster an acceptance of electric vehicles. While many scholars already investigated the relevant factors that would promote the use of sharing or electric vehicles, less is known about the groups or segments that are open for e-sharing and MaaS. We thus adopted a top-down segmentation approach to identify relevant groups for e-sharing and MaaS, supporting policy makers and practitioners in accelerating the transformation of the Swiss mobility system by developing tailored incentives

Nachhaltiges und zeitgemässes Pendeln : Möglichkeiten für einen Wandel in der Mobilität

Das Projekt Smart and Mobile Work in Growth Regions (Smart Commuting) erforscht neue Wege, Arbeit und Leben mit neuen intelligenten Mobilitätskonzepten für nachhaltiges Pendeln zu verbinden. Das Thema hat eine hohe Relevanz, denn die Nachfrage nach Mobilität in der Schweiz nimmt mit der wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung und dem Siedlungswachstum stetig zu. Steigende Einkommen, ein aktiver Lebensstil und das Bevölkerungswachstum durch Migration tragen weiter zu diesen Entwicklungen bei. Dieser Trend hat Folgen für Gesellschaft und Wirtschaft: Langes und mühsames Pendeln kann die Arbeitsproduktivität verringern und die Zeit für andere Tätigkeiten wie Freizeit, Erholung oder Familie einschränken. Die steigende Zahl von Pendlern und immer größere Entfernungen bringen auch die bestehenden Verkehrssysteme an ihre Kapazitätsgrenzen, erhöhen den Energieverbrauch und die gesundheits- und umweltschädlichen Emissionen. Infolgedessen hat die Arbeitskräftemobilität zunehmend negative soziale, ökonomische und ökologische Auswirkungen. Vor allem in überlasteten Ballungsräumen und in Städten mit hohem Pendleranteil müssen die Mobilitätsstrategien angepasst werden. Dabei können die Möglichkeiten neuer Technologien genutzt werden, um die Nachhaltigkeit der Mobilitätssysteme zu verbessern. Entsprechend wurden das Potenzial intermodaler Planungs- und Buchungssysteme wie "Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS)" aber auch neue Mobilitätskonzepte wie Car- oder Ridesharing in diesem Projekt untersucht. Das übergeordnete Ziel von "Smart Commuting" war es, 1. die Potenziale für CO2-Reduktion im Bereich der Pendlermobilität zu identifizieren, 2. Ansatzpunkte für einen Wandel hin zu einer nachhaltigen Mobilität zu identifizieren und 3. Strategien für eine nachhaltige Mobilität für das individuelle Mobilitätsverhalten sowie für Unternehmen, den städtischen Verkehr und die Mobilitätsplanung abzuleiten. Das Projekt verfolgt einen integrativen Ansatz zur Entwicklung von Pendlermobilitätslösungen. Entwicklungen in Gesellschaft und Arbeitswelt werden als Treiber für Mobilitätsnachfrage und als Ausgangspunkt für Maßnahmen berücksichtigt. Ziel war es auch, Entscheidungsträgern aus Politik und Planung bei der Gestaltung des Veränderungsprozesses hin zu einer nachhaltigen Mobilität Anhaltspunkte aufzuzeigen. Das Projekt ist Teil des ERA-NET Cofund Smart Cities and Communities (ENSCC), das von der Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) Urban Europe und der Smart Cities Member States Initiative (SC MSI) ins Leben gerufen wurde. In drei Fallstudien in Finnland, Österreich und der Schweiz wurden Daten erhoben, vergleichend analysiert und Empfehlungen für die Praxis erarbeitet. Der vorliegende Policy Brief stellt eine Zusammenfassung ausgewählter Ergebnisse und sich daraus ergebender Empfehlungen für Entscheidungsträger und Unternehmen im Transportbereich dar

Digitale Mobilitätsplattformen als Bestandteil einer nachhaltigen Pendlerstrategie im Raum Basel

Durch zunehmende Pendlerströme in den urbanen Regionen Europas resultieren Staus zu Spitzenzeiten, überlastete ÖV-Systeme und steigende Kosten. Gleichzeitig werden Lebensstile und Arbeitsweisen dynamischer und vielseitiger. Mobilitätsstrategien müssen dem angepasst werden. Das europäische Forschungsprojekt ENSCC Smart Commuting untersucht anhand einer Fallstudie in Basel unter Pendlern, inwieweit neue digitale Angebotskonzepte wie Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) Lösungen bieten können. Diese fassen die Planung, Buchung und Bezahlung von Mobilität in einem System zusammen.Es wird untersucht, wie gross das Potential solcher Systeme ist, eine Verlagerung von der individuellen Automobilität hin zu nachhaltigeren Verkehrsträgern, wie den öffentlichen- oder dem Aktivverkehr, zu begünstigen

Smart commuting? : a case study in Switzerland

Today, transportation is responsible for 32% of Switzerland’s CO2 emissions, making it the biggest CO2 emitter, even ahead of the industrial sector (20%). The motivation of the Smart Commuting project was to increase the share of public transport as well as active mobility and decrease private car usage in order to reduce CO2 emissions from transportation

New solutions in sustainable commuting : the attitudes and experience of European stakeholders and experts in Switzerland

New technologies and services can support sustainable mobility if they are successfully integrated into the given mobility system. Decision-makers play a decisive role as ‘enablers’ for such commodities. To find out how a transformation towards sustainable commuting can be forced by implementing innovative solutions like carsharing, Mobility as a Service, or autonomous vehicles, relevant stakeholders were identified for three European case studies. Their perspectives and openness towards trends and new solutions were researched in an online survey. In addition, five expert interviews and two workshops in Switzerland deepened the understanding of how new mobility services could be incorporated into companies through mobility management. Results reflect a strong distinction of stakeholders by their national borders and responsibilities. As new mobility technologies and solutions require collaboration, the acts of supporting strong cross-border and cross-disciplinary cooperation, as well as developing joint interests and work processes beyond traditional ones, are suggested as important starting points. The study reveals a high openness of important stakeholders towards new mobility services and discusses the experience of experts in company mobility management

Mode choice for commuting and leisure : a matter of lifestyle?

Based on the first edition (2016) of the Swiss Houshold Energy Demand Survey we investigate the effect of Otte’s top‐down, lifestyle‐based segmentation approach on the mode choice for commuting and leisure. Results of a multinomial logit show that Otte’s lifestyles have a significant effect on the mode choice for both commuting and leisure when controlled for income, education, age and gender. This implies that Otte’s top‐down, lifestyle‐based segmentation approach can be applied for identification of target groups and designing tailored interventions to promote sustainable means of transport. While entertainment‐oriented seem to be an appropriate target group for campaigns to change their current mode choice, the opposite is true for reflexives and hedonists

What are the factors and needs promoting mobility-as-a-service? Findings from the Swiss Household Energy Demand Survey (SHEDS)

Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) is a service that supports customers' transportation needs by providing information and ticketing for a multitude of transport modes in one interface; thus, buy potentially fostering multimodality and public transport, it represents an important lever to reduce negative transportation impacts such as emissions and congestion. By means of an online survey conducted in Switzerland, we try to understand potential user needs as well as factors that would motivate the use of MaaS. Comparing the openness to use MaaS for specific trip purposes like commuting and leisure activities, we find the lowest level of openness for commuting and the highest for weekend leisure trips. Intention to reduce car usage was positively related to openness to MaaS in commuting. On the other hand, factors that positively influence openness to using MaaS for leisure activities include a higher education degree, experience with carsharing and the use of transport-related climate policy announcements directly affecting consumers. These findings suggest focusing specifically on either commuting or leisure activities when designing policy measures

Push and pull strategies to increase the uptake of small electric vehicles

The demand for larger, heavier, and high range battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is growing. When relying on car utilization, smaller cars with sufficient battery range for typical daily distances could reduce greenhouse gas emissions, consumption of raw materials and pedestrian fatalities. Within our stated preference study with 844 participants, we used a combination of push and pull measures to motivate conventional car users to switch to a small BEV for everyday trips and mobility services for long-range trips. Our results suggest that up to 30% of conventional car owners would be open to switch to a small BEV in combination with mobility services. This can be increased to 41% through improved charging possibilities at home and at work. Combined with a fundamental CO2 tax on fuel, up to 67% would switch. The results are relevant for transport planners and politicians in designing efficient strategies to increase the uptake of small BEVs