Study: Ridesharing discourages mass transit ridership, increases traffic
Marie Donlon | April 05, 2021Although initially touted as an environmentally friendlier transportation option than personal car ownership or taxis, ridesharing is proving less so according to a recent study.
A team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Future Urban Mobility Interdisciplinary Research Group at Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology and China's Tongji University has determined that the introduction of ridesharing companies like Lyft and Uber, otherwise known as transport network companies (TNCs), has resulted in a negative net effect on the environment.
According to their findings, since the introduction of TNCs, mass transit ridership has declined by 8.9%, road congestion has increased by roughly 1% and congestion duration has increased by 4.5%.
Meanwhile, personal vehicle ownership has only declined by 1% and the presence of TNCs has reportedly discouraged both walking and public transportation usage.
However, the researchers suggest that the study’s findings could potentially result in the introduction of transportation policies that lead to positive changes.
The study — Impacts of transportation network companies on urban mobility — is published in the journal Nature Sustainability.
Something about convenience, not waiting around, sitting next to some stinky guy, getting to where you want to go directly, personal safety, etc. None of this should come as any surprise that people who can afford convenience will pay for it. And yet, taxis don't come under the same scrutiny that ridesharing does? What's up with that?