The role of lift sharing in future urban mobility

Richards, A.C., Beecroft, M.E., Waterson, B.J. and McDonald, M. (2008) The role of lift sharing in future urban mobility. 40th Annual Conference of the Universities' Transport Study Group, Portsmouth, UK. 03 - 05 Jan 2008.

Abstract

The ability of the private car to provide flexible, attractive and cost-effective personal travel is gradually being eroded, particularly in urban areas. Contributing factors are the increasing levels of congestion and enforcement, limited and increasingly expensive parking, and controls / charging on road use. Also, local authority targets such as those relating to the environment and road traffic reduction are constraining the use of cars in urban areas. In this context, the role of the car in future mobility may change and lift sharing offers the prospect of enabling more efficient usage by reducing single occupant car trips. This paper discusses research undertaken through the FUTURES project (Future Urban Technologies: Undertaking Research to Enhance Sustainability) to enhance understanding of the current practice and future potential of lift sharing in the UK. Current evidence relating to the benefits and impacts of lift sharing is limited. However, the presence of the UK’s principal lift sharing service provider, Liftshare.com Ltd, amongst the project’s stakeholders has enabled the research team to access previously unavailable data on the practice of lift sharing in the UK. In 2006, some 37,000 new subscribers joined Liftshare.com and this paper reports on the analysis of this 2006 membership database to identify common characteristics amongst lift sharers. The main variables analysed were journey purpose, type, distance and frequency, as well as age and gender of the subscriber. The paper then summarises key findings to emerge from this analysis before identifying some future research options.

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Contributors

Author: B.J. Waterson

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