Lessons From a Swiss Rideshare Deployment Illuminate How Agencies Can Ensure That Multimodal Options Can Effectively Work in Concert Without Directly Competing.
Switzerland
Integration of ridesharing with public transport in rural Switzerland: Practice and outcomes
Summary Information
Ridesharing services have significantly impacted the transportation ecosystem in cities across the world. However, the impacts of ridesharing are not always agreed upon--studies may differ in the projected effects of ridesharing on public transportation usage, vehicle miles travelled (VMT), and congestion. Moreover, the majority of studies focus on urban ridesharing usage. A recent paper from researchers at Lucerne University and the University of Bern examined a community-based ridesharing scheme in four rural municipalities in central Switzerland.
The researchers selected a ridesharing service that operates in low population density areas, and examined its operations in the municipalities of Luthern, Willisau, Zell, and Grossdietwil from June 2015 to March 2020. The service is known for being cost-effective, being 0.75 Swiss Francs more expensive than a bus ride, and is accessible to any user with a cell phone, and moreover does not require users or drivers to register with the service. Instead, the service sets up public noticeboards, which light up with travelers' destinations, and any driver may decide to pick up the passenger.
In analyzing the rideshare service's business model and history, the authors assembled a list of recommendations for transit agencies seeking to establish ridesharing integration to complement their existing services.
- Foster community engagement. By ensuring that any new scheme is developed with the inclusion of municipalities and local populations, agencies may ensure higher levels of consumer buy-in. The authors recommended intensive communication and marketing activities to raise awareness of the new service.
- Integrate services with existing transportation infrastructure. The authors recommended this strategy to provide travelers with additional options during their journey. For example, a traveler may head to a bus stop with the intention of using the rideshare service, only to find a bus arriving first.
- Consider the price points of the services. The rideshare service in question is more expensive to travelers than a bus ticket, but significantly cheaper than a taxi would be. This ensures that the service does not compete with public transit on price, but remains an attractive option to riders nonetheless.
