Recent research has shown that ridesharing is not basically on economic phenomenon but a complex social and psychological one influenced by numerous factors, as well as demographic and situational variables. The purposes of this study are (1) to determine which factors influence ridesharing, and (2) to develop appropriate strategies to encourage non-ridesharers to switch to ridesharing. Using a survey of 901 employees of New York State government, AID analysis and two-stage least squares regression were used to test for causal relationships between de11Cgraphics, attitudes and ridesharing behaviour. Four market segments based on distance and travel time to work were identified. The incidence of carpooling was greatest (54%) in long-distance (over 10 miles) commuters traveling over slow routes. Middle-distance commuters (3-10 miles), and long-distance commuters traveling over fast routes carpooled at slightly lower incidence: 32% and 40% respectively. Short-distance (less than 3 miles) commuters carpooled at only 14% incidence. The segments were analysed to determine which attitudes about carpooling influenced behaviour. Results and strategies vary among the segments. For commuters traveling over 3 miles one-way, an overall carpool rating, dependent on an individual's perception of salient attitudes, was found to influence, and be influenced by, behaviour. In addition, attitude toward crowding in carpools was found to influence the behaviour of long-distance (greater than 10 miles) commuters using expressways. No relationships were found in the segment of commuters traveling less than 3 miles. The research concluded that in order to account for such differences, it is necessary to have a carpool coordinator probe the perspective ridesharer and assess which set of attitudes are more important to each prospective carpooler's overall view of carpooling. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting