Research related to factors influencing an individual's propensity to carpool or vanpool is briefly reviewed to provide background for the findings of a survey of the general commuting population of suburban orange county, california. The findings are presented as they relate to three groups of commuters: ridesharers, solo drivers, and the general commuting population. Coparisons between the survey'sfindings and previous research are made. Among the key findings wasthat travel time was the most important mode selection factor for all three groups. Whereas the availability of a car at work was the second most important factor for commuters in general and solo drivers, ridesharers rated commutin costs as the second most important factor. Ridesharers were more likely than solo drivers to believe thathigh-occupancy vehicle (hov) lanes encourage ridesharing, and therewas more support among ridesharers than solo drivers for a sales tax increase to build hov lanes. The general commuter survey results support the previous findings with regard to the role of travel time and distance in commute mode choice: ridesharers commute for longer time and distances than either solo drivers or the general commutingpublic. Support was also provided for the role of parking cost and availability. Coparisons were also made between the data base of matchlist applicants of the regional commute management agency and thegeneral commuting population. The commute distances of commuters completing applications for ridesharing matchlists were more like those of current ridesharers than the general commuting public or solo drivers. Also, the proportion of matchlist applicants currently ridesharing was larger than that of the general commuting public. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1285, Transportation forecasting 1990.
Abstract