The october 17, 1989, loma prieta earthquake in northern california caused extensive damage to the region's transportation network and forced temporary commute modifications during the reconstruction period. Pre- and post-earthquake commute characteristics on the major interregional highway connecting santa cruz county with the san francisco bay area are described and whether the enforced carpooling required during the highway reconstruction period caused any sustained changes in ridesharing behavior in this corridor is examined. On the basis of the two surveys conducted during and after the reconstruction period, it was concluded that 57% of survey respondents who were forced to carpool during the post-earthquake reconstruction period chose to continue ridesharing after the highway returned to normaloperations. Survey respondents indicated that the greatest incentives to continue carpooling were cost savings and ease of finding suitable carpool partners. Those who discontinued ridesharing most oftencited irregular work hours as the reason. Implications for rideshare marketing are discussed. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1321, Rideshare programs: evaluation of effectiveness, trip reduction programs, demand management, and commuter attitudes 1991.
Samenvatting