Most trips in U.S. metropolitan regions are drive-alone car trips, an expensive and inefficient means of moving people. A more efficient system would allow drivers to share cars. Such a system is often less convenient for travelers, but convenience can be enhanced by deploying “smart” technologies in concert with shared-use vehicles and transit.
The motivation for this research is to determine how the use of information and communication technologies can enhance flexibility and mobility—and what value travelers will place on these new transportation means. My dissertation, using new...
Public transportation systems are comprised of extensive bus networks, light rail, and heavy rail extending to most major destinations. However, efficient transit station access is often limited. In the U.S., a more comprehensive approach is needed that offers a range of integrated “door-todoor” mobility services that enhance connectivity, provide customer flexibility, and potentially increase transit ridership. The Segway Human Transporter (Segway HT) is an innovative mobility device that could provide such a demand-responsive, easy to use tool to link home, work, and other activity...
Susan A. Shaheen, Caroline J. Rodier, and Amanda M. Eaken
2003
To evaluate the potential for low-speed modes to improve transit access, the EasyConnect field test will offer shared-use Segway Human Transporters(HT), electric bicycles, and bicycles linked to a Bay Area Rapid Transit District station surrounding employment centers in California. Because of safety concerns, research was conducted to understand the risks associated with these modes and potential risk factors. A review of the safety literature indicates that user error is the major cause of low-speed mode crashes, and significant risk factors are poor surface conditions and...
Susan A. Shaheen, Ph.D., Caroline J. Rodier, Ph.D., and Joshua Seelig
2005
The integration of innovative technologies with traditional modal options in transit oriented developments (TODs) may be the key to providing the kind of high-quality transit service that can effectively compete with the automobile in suburban transit corridors. The EasyConnect II project represents a multi-technology integration of innovative strategies planned to enhance transit use during the development and construction of a suburban TOD at the Pleasant Hill Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District station in the East San Francisco Bay Area. The project team represents a unique...
Susan A. Shaheen, Ph.D. and Caroline Rodier, Ph.D.
2006
The EasyConnect Low-Speed Modes Linked to Transit Planning Project (TO 5113) project represents the integration of innovative strategies to enhance transit use during the development and construction of a suburban transit oriented development at the Pleasant Hill Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District station in the East San Francisco Bay Area. This planning project brings together a unique partnership including small technology businesses, transportation agencies, city and county government, and academia. The project components include the introduction of shared-use low speed mode...
Susan A. Shaheen, PhD, Caroline Rodier, PhD, Tagan Blake, Jeffrey R. Lidicker, and Elliot Martin
2009
Smart growth policy strategies attempt to control increasing auto travel, congestion, and vehicle emissions by redirecting new development into communities with a high-intensity mix of shopping, jobs, and housing that is served by high-quality modal alternatives to single occupant vehicles. The integration of innovative technologies with traditional modal options in transit-oriented developments (TODs) may be the key to providing the kind of high-quality transit service that can effectively compete with the automobile in suburban transit corridors. A major challenge, however, of such...
Susan A. Shaheen, Ph.D., Madonna Camel, and Meera Velu
2011
Bikesharing, the short-term rental of a shared fleet of bicycles, is one strategy to improve the environment, air quality, and community health. This study, sponsored by the California Department of Transportation, explores the feasibility of an employee bikesharing program and includes a literature review on bikesharing projects, a description of the Caltrans District 4 employee bikesharing pilot, and user analyses (surveys and usage).
As of October 2012, carsharing was operating in 27 countries and five continents, with an estimated 1,788,000 members sharing over 43,550 vehicles. Carsharing was planned in seven additional countries worldwide. North America remains the largest carsharing region in terms of membership, with 50.8% of worldwide members and 36% of all fleets deployed. Europe, which has lower member-vehicle ratios, accounts for 38.7% of members and 47.0% of fleets deployed.
Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) have primarily focused on systems management. To further improve connectivity and safety in the future, ITS might embrace a more holistic planning approach. While the future of ITS remains an open question, its evolution is closely linked to how the world evolves on many dimensionssocial, political, economic, legal, and environmental. In this paper, the authors present results from four expert workshops. These consisted of an initial steering committee workshop (February 2011), two expert scenario-planning workshops (June 2011), and a final...
The recent acquisitions of IGO CarSharing by Enterprise Holdings in May 2013 and Zipcar by the Avis Budget Group in January 2013 continues a trend of mergers and acquisitions in North American “classic” carsharing (or roundtrip, short-term vehicle access). This trend began in the early 2000s with the Flexcar acquisition of CarSharing Portland in 2001 and the merger of Zipcar and Flexcar in 2007. Mergers and acquisitions again became an industry hallmark with the Enterprise Holdings’ acquisition of PhillyCarShare in 2011 and their acquisition of Mint Cars On-Demand in 2012.