Developing Optimal Peer-to-Peer Ridesharing Strategies

Abstract

Ridesharing can bring numerous advantages and benefits to communities, such as improving mobility by decreasing traffic congestion and travel time and enhancing quality of life by reducing energy consumption and pollution. Although ridesharing or carpooling has been around, it's neither popular nor convenient and mostly used for commuting or special occasions, either formally or informally.

Despite the difficulty of successfully implementing ridesharing systems, the recent successful adoption of the Transportation Network Company (TNC) business model and technological advances indicates that it is time to develop an appropriate peer-to-peer (P2P) ridesharing system. Such a system would be much more affordable, economical and sustainable than the current TNC service because P2P ridesharing does not require unnecessary drivers and trips, and it produces less deadheading.

In order to make an efficient P2P ridesharing system, this research optimizes the vehicle-rider matching and vehicle routing and develops sustainable financial policies including financial incentives for ridesharing providers, adequate costs for the ridesharing recipients, and potential subsidies in order to promote the P2P ridesharing.

Read the full article here. 

Universities and Sponsoring Organizations Involved

Morgan State University

Principal Investigator(s)

Young-Jae Lee (MSU) Email: YoungJae.Lee@morgan.edu
Amirreza Nickkar (MSU) Email: amnic1@morgan.edu

Funding Sources and Amounts

USDOT: $41,220 (Federal), MSU: $52,050 (Match)

Start Date

July 1, 2019

Expected Completion Date

June 30, 2020

Expected Research Outcomes

This research will find the optimal operation of the ridesharing system including ride matching and vehicle routing as well as it will find the optimal financial structure for the ridesharing system, which can provide incentives to ridesharing providers and ridesharing receivers. Eventually, this research can be a foundation for future ridesharing service implementation.

Expected Equity Impacts and Benefits of Implementation

Peer-to-Peer ridesharing is more cost-effective than Transportation Network Company (TNC)'s ride hailing service. So it is also expected that the implementation of this kind of project can greatly enhance accessibility and mobility for disadvantaged people in underserved areas.

Subject Areas

Ridesharing service