An evaluation of ridesharing in Lexington, Kentucky

This thesis evaluates the quality of performance of the Lexington Area Ridesharing Project In Lexington, Kentucky. Two methods were used to complete the evaluation: an Information and collection process entailing Interviews with many Important transportation officials In the Lexington area, and a mathematical evaluation technique developed by the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A & M University.

The results from both methodologies led to the same conclusions. These were that ridesharing In Lexington had an Inauspicious beginning, but now, through the Lexington Ridesharing Project's efforts, ridesharing Is picking up momentum and the program Is better than most of those In the United States. The Texas A & M methodology was more specific on the last point, calculating that Lexington's program rated better than 65.2 percent of those around the nation. In the comparison of the programs In Lexington and Knoxvillle, It was found that Knoxvillle had coped better with the turfism problem, had been much more successful at obtaining the cooperation of Its area's large employers, and had provided more incentive for Its residents to rideshare. Knoxvillle has many more poolers than Lexington, but also has spent more money In Its pooling program efforts.