Bespoke services for personal travel – the case of lift sharing - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Bespoke services for personal travel –the case of lift sharing

Presenter: Mark Beecroft

Transportation Research Group

University of Southampton

Transport in Cities Conference – London Transport Museum – 6th May 2009

• Lift sharing:“a travel choice whereby individuals combine to share private vehicles for specific journeys”
• Range of approaches:
• Informal sharing in households
• Employer schemes
• Specialist service provides

Transport in Cities Conference – London Transport Museum – 6th May 2009

Transport in Cities Conference – London Transport Museum – 6th May 2009

• Benefits:
• Congestion/efficiency
• Social inclusion
• Issues:
• Reduced independence & flexibility
• Makes a positive contribution

to sustainable mobility

• Lack of detailed analysis of impacts

Transport in Cities Conference – London Transport Museum – 6th May 2009

• DfT 2004 Smarter Choices report
• Attitudinal & behavioural measures can

contribute to more sustainable travel

• Guidance promotes benefits and links

to travel plans for education and work related travel.

• Knowledge of benefits/impacts of lift sharing ltd
• Detailed analysis essential to assess potential role in future mobility
• Partnership with leading UK service provider

Liftshare.com

Transport in Cities Conference – London Transport Museum – 6th May 2009

• Who uses/doesn’t use lift sharing?
• What are typical journey characteristics?
• How did people start lift sharing?

Database

• Liftshare data used = 2006 new subscribers c37,000

Transport in Cities Conference – London Transport Museum – 6th May 2009

Transport in Cities Conference – London Transport Museum – 6th May 2009

Journey purpose

Journey type

Journey frequency

Transport in Cities Conference – London Transport Museum – 6th May 2009

How heard about liftshare scheme

New Liftshare membership in London, July 2005

Transport in Cities Conference – London Transport Museum – 6th May 2009

• Focus group findings:
• Hampshire CC employees in Winchester & Basingstoke
• Much informal sharing: need incentives to formally register
• Parking provision most attractive incentive
• There are significant social interaction benefits from lift sharing which have been given limited attention.
• People often start lift sharing because of a trigger event (moving home or job) that leads them to reconsider their travel behaviour.

Transport in Cities Conference – London Transport Museum – 6th May 2009

• Lift sharing could have a significant role in future mobility
• More pragmatic travel

choices in challenging

economic climate

• Role for (planning)

policy to support

lift sharing

• Move from niche to

mainstream?

Transport in Cities Conference – London Transport Museum – 6th May 2009