Willingness to Share Rides in a Future of Autonomous Vehicles
A Multidimensional Analysis of Willingness to Share Rides in a Future of Autonomous Vehicles
Project Budget (Federal UTC Funds): N/A
Project Budget (Cost-share): N/A
Institution: Arizona State University
Abstract
A sustainable transportation future is one in which people eschew personal car ownership in favor of using automated vehicle (AV) based ridehailing services in a shared mode. However, the traveling public has historically shown a disinclination towards sharing rides and carpooling with strangers. In a future of AV-based ridehailing services, it will be necessary for people to embrace both AVs as well as true ridesharing to fully realize the benefits of automated and shared mobility technologies. This study investigates the factors influencing the willingness to use AV-based ridehailing services in the future in a shared (with strangers) mode. This is done through the estimation of a comprehensive behavioral model system on a comprehensive survey data set that includes rich information about attitudes, perceptions, and preferences regarding the adoption of automated vehicles and shared mobility modes. Model results show that current ridehailing experiences strongly influence the likelihood of being willing to ride AV-based services in a shared mode. Campaigns that provide opportunities for individuals to experience such services firsthand would potentially go a long way in enabling a shared mobility future at scale. In addition, a number of attitudinal variables are found to strongly influence the adoption of future mobility services; these findings provide insights on likely early adopters of shared automated mobility services and the types of educational awareness campaigns that may effect change in the prospects for such services.