UC Davis Flexible Carpooling: Exploratory Study
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UC Davis Flexible Carpooling: Exploratory Study PROJECT SPONSORS: University of California, Davis, Energy Efficiency Center Trip Convergence Ltd CO-AUTHORS: Diana M. Dorinson Founder and Principal, Transportation Analytics Deanna Gay Business and Law Student, University of California, Davis Paul Minett, MBA Co-Founder and Chief Executive, Trip Convergence Ltd Susan Shaheen, PhD Honda Distinguished Scholar in Transportation at UC Davis; Co-Director, Transportation sustainability Research Center at UC Berkeley; and Co-Director of the transportation track of the Energy Efficiency Center, UC Davis September, 2009 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Key Findings .............................................................................................................................................. 6 Key Recommendations ............................................................................................................................. 7 Chapter 1: Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 8 1.1. Background ................................................................................................................................... 8 1.2. This Project .................................................................................................................................... 9 1.3. Conclusions and Recommendations ........................................................................................... 12 Chapter 2: Meeting Places not Databases ............................................................................................ 13 2.1. Chapter Summary ....................................................................................................................... 13 2.2. Contrast With Traditional Carpooling: The Pre-arrangement Paradigm ................................... 13 2.3. User Experience .......................................................................................................................... 15 Chapter 3: Impact on Public Transit...................................................................................................... 21 3.1. Chapter Summary ....................................................................................................................... 21 3.2. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 21 3.3. Analytical Dimensions ................................................................................................................. 22 3.4. Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 23 3.5. Assumptions ................................................................................................................................ 25 3.6. Corridor Attributes ...................................................................................................................... 28 3.7. Baseline Results .......................................................................................................................... 30 3.8. Scenario Results .......................................................................................................................... 34 3.9. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................. 45 3.10. References .............................................................................................................................. 46 Chapter 4: The Energy Consumption Impacts of Flexible Carpooling .................................................. 48 4.1. Chapter Summary ....................................................................................................................... 48 4.2. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 48 4.3. Approach ..................................................................................................................................... 50 4.4. Scenario 1: Energy Use if Commuter Group all Drive Alone (SOV) ............................................ 51 UC DAVIS FLEXIBLE CARPOOLING EXPLORATORY STUDY SEPTEMBER 2009 PAGE 2 OF 83 4.5. Scenario 2: Energy Use if Commuter Group Uses Flexible Carpooling ....................................... 52 4.6. Scenario 3: Energy Consumption if Commuter Group Uses Express Bus ................................... 53 4.7. Summary of Scenarios ................................................................................................................ 54 4.8. Discussion: Potential for Different Results if Assumptions are Varied ...................................... 55 4.9. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................. 61 4.10. References .............................................................................................................................. 62 Chapter 5: Liability and Insurance ........................................................................................................ 64 5.1. Chapter Summary ....................................................................................................................... 64 5.2. Liability ........................................................................................................................................ 64 5.3. Insurance ..................................................................................................................................... 68 5.4. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................. 71 5.5. References .................................................................................................................................. 72 Appendix A: Relevant Transportation Attributes (Chapter 3) ................................................................... 73 Appendix B: Case Study Routings (Chapter 3) ........................................................................................... 80 UC DAVIS FLEXIBLE CARPOOLING EXPLORATORY STUDY SEPTEMBER 2009 PAGE 3 OF 83 Acknowledgements This project would not have been possible without the funding support from the University of California, Davis Energy Efficiency Center. The report would also have not been possible without the support of the Honda Motor Company through its endowment for New Mobility Studies at the University of California, Davis. The report would also have not been possible without the support of Trip Convergence Ltd, of Auckland New Zealand, for the initiation of the idea of flexible carpooling and the time and travel that has enabled the networks to develop as a result of this collaboration. Trip Convergence Ltd acknowledges the support of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, the export development arm of the Government of New Zealand. The following people have been crucial to the development of this report: - Diana Dorinson – Transportation Analytics - Ben Finkelor – UC Davis Energy Efficiency Center - Deanna Gay – Law Student, UC Davis - Paul Minett – Trip Convergence Ltd - Susan Shaheen – UC Berkeley The contents of this paper reflect the views of the authors and do not necessarily indicate acceptance by the sponsors. UC DAVIS FLEXIBLE CARPOOLING EXPLORATORY STUDY SEPTEMBER 2009 PAGE 4 OF 83 KEY PERSONNEL AND RESPONSIBILITIES Susan Shaheen, Honda Distinguished Scholar in Transportation at UC Davis, Co-Director, Transportation Sustainability Research Center at UC Berkeley, and Co-Director of the transportation track of the Energy Efficiency Center, encouraged the initiation of the project, oversaw all phases of the project, and provided feedback to drafts of the chapters. Ben Finkelor, Executive Director for the UC Davis Energy Efficiency Center, provided project management, engaged the contributors, and coordinated feedback to drafts. Paul Minett, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Trip Convergence Ltd, and co-inventor of the flexible carpooling system provided the background for Chapter 2 and conducted the analysis for Chapter 4 the energy efficiency implications of flexible carpooling. Diana Dorinson, Founder and Principal, Transportation Analytics carried out the analysis that makes up Chapter 3: the factors that would drive individual choice between single occupant vehicle (SOV) driving, public transport, and flexible carpooling. Deanna Gay, law student at the University of California, Davis, carried out the research for Chapter 5: liability and insurance. UC DAVIS FLEXIBLE CARPOOLING EXPLORATORY STUDY SEPTEMBER 2009 PAGE 5 OF 83 Executive Summary Energy consumption could be reduced if more people shared rides rather than driving alone, yet carpooling represents a small proportion of all potential carpoolers. Prior research has found that many who might carpool were concerned about reduced flexibility with carpooling. If flexibility is one of the barriers, how could carpooling be organized