Publication Detail
Carsharing in the United States: Examining Market Potential
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UCD-ITS-RP-01-10 Presentation Series Download PDF |
Suggested Citation:
Shaheen, Susan A. (2001) Carsharing in the United States: Examining Market Potential. Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis, Presentation Series UCD-ITS-RP-01-10
8th World Congress on Intelligent Transportation Systems
The automobile is the dominant travel mode throughout the U.S., while transit accounts for less than four-percent of market share. Between these principal modes, niche markets exist for other transportation services, such as transit feeder shuttles and carsharing. Carsharing, in which individuals share a fleet of vehicles distributed at neighborhoods, employment sites, and/or transit stations, could potentially fill and expand one such niche; complement existing services; and develop into an economically viable transportation alternative. While most transit modes rely heavily upon governmental support, carsharing has the potential to become commercially sustainable. Nevertheless, carsharing is a relatively new development in the U.S. and will require more time to develop into a sustainable and widespread transportation alternative.
This paper includes a brief discussion of carsharing history in Europe and an overview of U.S. carsharing developments. It also highlights CarLink—the first smart commuter-based carsharing program in the San Francisco Bay Area—to examine the market potential and viability of one U.S. shared-use vehicle model in greater detail. (For more information on CarLink go to www.gocarlink.com.) Finally, the author concludes this paper with a discussion of the complementary niche potential of carsharing to fill existing gaps between traditional transit and private vehicles.
The automobile is the dominant travel mode throughout the U.S., while transit accounts for less than four-percent of market share. Between these principal modes, niche markets exist for other transportation services, such as transit feeder shuttles and carsharing. Carsharing, in which individuals share a fleet of vehicles distributed at neighborhoods, employment sites, and/or transit stations, could potentially fill and expand one such niche; complement existing services; and develop into an economically viable transportation alternative. While most transit modes rely heavily upon governmental support, carsharing has the potential to become commercially sustainable. Nevertheless, carsharing is a relatively new development in the U.S. and will require more time to develop into a sustainable and widespread transportation alternative.
This paper includes a brief discussion of carsharing history in Europe and an overview of U.S. carsharing developments. It also highlights CarLink—the first smart commuter-based carsharing program in the San Francisco Bay Area—to examine the market potential and viability of one U.S. shared-use vehicle model in greater detail. (For more information on CarLink go to www.gocarlink.com.) Finally, the author concludes this paper with a discussion of the complementary niche potential of carsharing to fill existing gaps between traditional transit and private vehicles.