Publication Detail
Sacramento-Area Real-Time Rideshare Matching Field Operational Test: Results of Pre-Implementation User and Non-User Surveys
|
UCD-ITS-RR-95-14 Research Report |
Suggested Citation:
Jovanis, Paul P. and Raghu R. Kowshik (1995) Sacramento-Area Real-Time Rideshare Matching Field Operational Test: Results of Pre-Implementation User and Non-User Surveys. Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis, Research Report UCD-ITS-RR-95-14
Sacramento Rideshare, the regional ridesharing agency for the 11-county area of Caltrans' District 3, has recently installed a new rideshare matching system. The new system is being used to provide regular rideshare matching services, distributed rideshare matching services through Transportation Management Associations (TMAs), and Real-Time Rideshare Matching services (as part of California's Advanced Public Transportation Systems (CAPTS) program).
Prior to the development of the system, the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis conducted a users needs study for the real-time rideshare matching system. The system was designed at Sacramento Rideshare and the Real-Time Rideshare Matching service has been implemented through seven Sacramento-area TMAs. Each participating TMA was furnished with software and hardware to query the system and obtain matches.
The objectives of the Real-Time Rideshare Matching Field Operational Test are to evaluate system performance and efficiency, initial and operating costs, impacts on user behavior, user and non-user satisfaction, inducement of new rideshare users, and provide initial estimates of regional transportation impacts when the real-time rideshare matching system is fully deployed.
User evaluation is being performed primarily through surveys. Two distinct groups of Sacramento area residents were surveyed in this effort. The first group consists of potential users of the Real-Time Ridesharing service, while the second group consists of non-users – commuters and non-commuters who had not signed up with the system. Surveys of users and non-users conducted prior to the Real-Time Ridesharing System becoming operational in December 1994 resulted in 223 user surveys and 619 non-user surveys. Users were classified into categories of carpoolers, transit users and SOV drivers yielding 72 carpoolers, 8 transit riders, and 137 SOV drivers, with 6 persons not falling into any of these categories. Non-user surveys yielded 285 carpoolers, 71 transit riders, and 219 SOV drivers, with 44 persons not falling into any of these categories.
Prior to the development of the system, the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis conducted a users needs study for the real-time rideshare matching system. The system was designed at Sacramento Rideshare and the Real-Time Rideshare Matching service has been implemented through seven Sacramento-area TMAs. Each participating TMA was furnished with software and hardware to query the system and obtain matches.
The objectives of the Real-Time Rideshare Matching Field Operational Test are to evaluate system performance and efficiency, initial and operating costs, impacts on user behavior, user and non-user satisfaction, inducement of new rideshare users, and provide initial estimates of regional transportation impacts when the real-time rideshare matching system is fully deployed.
User evaluation is being performed primarily through surveys. Two distinct groups of Sacramento area residents were surveyed in this effort. The first group consists of potential users of the Real-Time Ridesharing service, while the second group consists of non-users – commuters and non-commuters who had not signed up with the system. Surveys of users and non-users conducted prior to the Real-Time Ridesharing System becoming operational in December 1994 resulted in 223 user surveys and 619 non-user surveys. Users were classified into categories of carpoolers, transit users and SOV drivers yielding 72 carpoolers, 8 transit riders, and 137 SOV drivers, with 6 persons not falling into any of these categories. Non-user surveys yielded 285 carpoolers, 71 transit riders, and 219 SOV drivers, with 44 persons not falling into any of these categories.