Planning guidelines for selecting ridesharing strategies in small and medium sized urban areas

This research describes a set of planning guidelines for evaluating and selecting alternative ridesharing strategies in small and medium sized urban areas. The guidelines enable a detailed step by step analysis that begins by assessing the role of ridesharing in the study area and proceeds through market identification, alternative strategy identification, strategy evaluation, and final program evaluation. The guidelines specifically address the topics of strategy evaluation and selection and do not deal with detailed implementation steps or issues. For each step in the evaluation process a list and discussion of critical evaluation factors is presented so that each strategy is systematically evaluated and assessed relative to surrounding market conditions.

Specific elements which are presented as part of the guidelines include:

• A comprehensive and full description of eight major alternative ridesharing strategies and documentation of operational experiences;

• A bibliography index of selected references for each alter native ridesharing strategy;

• An investigation of individual and household attitudes and behaviors related to ridesharing;

&bull: A set of supply models that estimate the number of commuters needed to participate in ridesharing to achieve given levels of reduction in vehicle miles of travel, energy consumption, and parking demand; and

• An assessment of existing methodologies for estimating expected ridesharing demand as a result of transportation policy changes.

In addition to these elements, an investigation was undertaken to develop a quick response sketch planning methodology for estimating ridesharing demand. The analysis attempted to develop a mode split model utilizing multiple linear regression techniques and characteristics of the trip and trip maker. After analysis, the methodology did not accurately distinguish between those commuters who rideshare and drive alone and indicated that the decision to rideshare is based on a combination of travel related and attitudinal factors. As a result of this failure, three quick response techniques are suggested from existing methodologies: (1) the Department of Energy's manual mode choice method, (2) administration of local surveys to identified market segments, and (3) examination of previous strategy applications in other communities.

Further conclusions reached through this research were: (1) to ensure selection of the most effective ridesharing strategies, a systematic analysis of alternatives should be undertaken; (2) to assess whether ridesharing is realistically capable of achieving desired reduction levels in VMT and energy usage supply estimates of ridesharing participation levels should be undertaken to determine the number of commuters that must participate in new or expanded ridesharing arrangements, and; (3) attitudes of ridesharers and nonridesharers toward ridesharing should be investigated so they can be utilized in identifying ridesharing strategies that address those issues.

Through use of the evaluation procedure presented in this research and accompanying support materials, a quick and comprehensive analysis of ridesharing options can be undertaken to determine those strategies with the greatest potential for increasing ridesharing rates and reducing VMT and energy usage.