Bespoke services for personal travel – the case of lift sharing

1. 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

2. Defining lift sharing • 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

3. The mobility context Transport in Cities Conference – London Transport Museum – 6th May 2009

4. Why lift share? • 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

5. State of current knowledge • 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

6. Research questions • 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

7. Who uses/doesn’t use lift sharing? Transport in Cities Conference – London Transport Museum – 6th May 2009

8. What are typical journey characteristics? Journey purpose Journey type Journey frequency Transport in Cities Conference – London Transport Museum – 6th May 2009

9. How did people start lift sharing? How heard about liftshare scheme New Liftshare membership in London, July 2005 Transport in Cities Conference – London Transport Museum – 6th May 2009

10. Attitudes to lift sharing • 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

11. Conclusions • 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