Carpooling and the Beginning of Shared Mobility

· Published: · Last updated: ·

Shared Mobility

Summary

Even though shared mobility may seem like a new concept, carpooling is part of the origins. For the same reasons carpooling started, shared mobility is a smarter way to spend money on getting from A to B.

carpooling

The term shared mobility is new, but the concept is not. All shared mobility involves is “transportation services that are shared among users”¹, which could include carsharing, ridesharing, and even public transportation. Carpooling can be considered part of the shared mobility world as well.

Carpooling peaked in the 1970s as a result of the oil crisis when people were looking for more cost-effective ways to get to work². Carpooling was more convenient, saved on parking and gas costs, and provided a feeling of community. If these benefits sound familiar to you, it’s because they are the same benefits the shared mobility industry often touts as well.

Carpooling has declined in popularity as oil prices have since decreased, but there are growing reasons why people should choose carpooling as a way to get around the city, especially to work². In America, less than 10% of commuters share a ride to work, with 77% of commuters driving to work alone³. Sharing your ride with another passenger results in decreased traffic congestion, less emissions, and better quality of life for the community³.

On the green side, carpooling is a great way to contribute to a more liveable, clean environment. On the cost side, it is economical because costs are split; even vehicle maintenance costs can be split if needed. Carpooling is not dead yet – Lyft, for example, offers a carpool service as well as their more famous rideshare service. In their San Francisco operations, 50% of total Lyft rides are done through their carpool service; 30% in New York City³.

When the City of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, implemented a new carpooling initiative, they were able to reduce their annual greenhouse gas emissions by 854 tonnes through 143 carpools². Similarly, Deloitte found that 27% of commutes could be done via a carpool program and contribute to societal savings of $30.3 billion annually³. These savings would be in the form of reduced private vehicle maintenance, lower congestion costs, and decreased need to improve road infrastructure³.

What are your thoughts on carpooling? How can today’s technological growth assist in making carpooling more commonplace?

 

 

Resources

  1. “Shared Mobility Definitions.” Federal Transit Administration. United States Department of Transportation, 07 Dec. 2016. Web. 24 Apr. 2017. https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/shared-mobility-definitions.
  2. Government of Canada; Transport Canada; Programs. “Carpooling Trends in Canada and Abroad.” Transport Canada. Government of Canada, 06 Aug. 2010. Web. 24 Apr. 2017. http://data.tc.gc.ca/archive/eng/programs/environment-utsp-casestudy-cs73e-carpooling-889.htm.
  3. Viechnicki, Peter, Dr, Abhijit Khuperkar, Tiffany Dovey Fishman, and William Eggers. “Smart Mobility: Ridesharing.” Deloitte University Press. Deloitte, 18 May 2015. Web. 23 Apr. 2017. https://dupress.deloitte.com/dup-us-en/industry/public-sector/smart-mobility-trends-ridesharing.html.
  4. Soper, Taylor. “Lyft’s Carpooling Service Now Makes up 50% of Rides in San Francisco; 30% in NYC.” GeekWire. N.p., 22 Apr. 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2017. http://www.geekwire.com/2015/lyfts-carpooling-service-now-makes-up-50-of-rides-in-san-francisco-30-in-nyc/.

Related Posts

Free-floating Carsharing in Poland: Interview with Adam Jedrzejewski

Carsharing, Expert Interviews, Shared Mobility

Free-Floating Carsharing in Poland: An Insights Interview

The free-floating carsharing market in Poland is one of the Top 3 European markets. We asked Adam Jędrzejewski, Founder & CEO at the Polish shared mobility association Mobilne Miasto, about the first six years of carsharing in Poland, user characteristics in Polish carsharing, the key market statistics and about the leading operators in the country.

Free-Floating carsharing in Spain: Interview with David Bartolome

Carsharing, Expert Interviews, Shared Mobility

Free-Floating Carsharing in Spain: An Insights Interview

The free-floating carsharing market in Spain is one of the Top 5 European markets. We asked David Bartolome, President at the Spanish carsharing organization AVCE & Business Development and Public Affairs Manager at Free2move, about the history, why Madrid stands out, milestones, and trends of free-floating carsharing in Spain.

Free-Floating carsharing in Italy: Interview with Luca Refrigeri

Carsharing, Expert Interviews, Shared Mobility

Free-Floating Carsharing in Italy: An Insights Interview

The free-floating carsharing market in Italy is one of the Top 3 European markets. Italian customers can use carsharing in many Italian cities like Milan or Rome. We asked Luca Refrigeri, Data Analyst at Osservatorio Nazionale Sharing Mobility, about the history, main KPIs, usage characteristics, profitability, and trends of free-floating carsharing in Italy.