Several researchers have tried to understand the effects of ride-hailing on transportation system performance related metrics such as vehicle miles traveled (VMT) [1], [2], [3]. Most studies are in agreement that Transportation Network Companies increase VMT and decrease public transit ridership [1], [2], [3], [4]. For example, Wu and MacKenzie (2021) used the 2017 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) along with causal inference to estimate the effect of ride-hailing services on VMT. They concluded that a net 7.8 million daily VMT or 2.8 billion annual VMT were added nationwide due to ride-hailing services at the time of the 2017 NHTS data collection [1]. Other studies have tried to understand the effect of congestion pricing strategies on ride-hailing ridership [1]. For example, Zheng et al. (2023) estimated the effects of ride-hailing congestion pricing policy on ridership in Chicago and concluded that the policy led to a growth in shared trips and a decline in single trips. Some studies have also tried to understand the effects of ride-hailing on transit and other modes of transportation [1], [2], [3].
Current opportunities for future research include: 1) using more updated data (e.g., 2022 NHTS) to assess the effects of ride-hailing on VMT and travel behavior, as the impact of ride-hailing services changes dynamically, and 2) assessing the impact of ride-hailing services in rural areas and less studied regions of the country, which could provide insights for local and state policies.
References
X. Wu and D. MacKenzie, “Assessing the VMT effect of ridesourcing services in the US,” Transp. Res. Part Transp. Environ., vol. 94, p. 102816, May 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.trd.2021.102816.
A. Henao and W. E. Marshall, “The impact of ride-hailing on vehicle miles traveled,” Transportation, vol. 46, no. 6, pp. 2173–2194, Dec. 2019, doi: 10.1007/s11116-018-9923-2.
G. Tian, R. Ewing, and H. Li, “Exploring the influences of ride-hailing services on VMT and transit usage – Evidence from California,” J. Transp. Geogr., vol. 110, p. 103644, Jun. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2023.103644.
. S. Ngo, T. Götschi, and B. Y. Clark, “The effects of ride-hailing services on bus ridership in a medium-sized urban area using micro-level data: Evidence from the Lane Transit District,” Transp. Policy, vol. 105, pp. 44–53, May 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2021.02.012.
R. Grahn, S. Qian, H. S. Matthews, and C. Hendrickson, “Are travelers substituting between transportation network companies (TNC) and public buses? A case study in Pittsburgh,” Transportation, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 977–1005, Apr. 2021, doi: 10.1007/s11116-020-10081-4
Y. Zheng, P. Meredith-Karam, A. Stewart, H. Kong, and J. Zhao, “Impacts of congestion pricing on ride-hailing ridership: Evidence from Chicago,” Transp. Res. Part Policy Pract., vol. 170, p. 103639, Apr. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.tra.2023.103639.
I. O. Olayode, A. Severino, F. Justice Alex, E. Macioszek, and L. K. Tartibu, “Systematic review on the evaluation of the effects of ride-hailing services on public road transportation,” Transp. Res. Interdiscip. Perspect., vol. 22, p. 100943, Nov. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.trip.2023.100943.
R. Grahn, C. D. Harper, C. Hendrickson, Z. Qian, and H. S. Matthews, “Socioeconomic and usage characteristics of transportation network company (TNC) riders,” Transportation, vol. 47, no. 6, pp. 3047–3067, Dec. 2020, doi: 10.1007/s11116-019-09989-3.
Related Literature Reviews
See Literature Reviews on Ridehail/Transportation Network Companies
See Literature Reviews on Transportation Systems Operations (and Efficiency)
Note: Mobility COE research partners conducted this literature review in Spring of 2024 based on research available at the time. Unless otherwise noted, this content has not been updated to reflect newer research.