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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Transportation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2021) | Viewed by 61326

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Margareta Friman

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Guest Editor

Department of Social and Psychological Studies, and Service Research Center, Karlstad University, 651 88 Karlstad, Sweden
Interests: wellbeing; travel behavior; sustainability; service quality; satisfaction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Lars Olsson

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Guest Editor

Department of Social and Psychological Studies, and Service Research Center, Karlstad University, 651 88 Karlstad, Sweden
Interests: wellbeing; happiness; travel; behavioral change; life-course; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Hugo Guyader

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Guest Editor

Department of Management Engineering, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
Interests: sharing economy; platform business models; service marketing; sustainable consumption

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are organizing a Special Issue of Sustainability on Shared Mobility. The venue is a peer-reviewed open-access journal that publishes articles and communications in the interdisciplinary area of sustainability. For detailed information on the journal, we refer you to https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability.

Shared mobility refers to the shared use of any transportation mode (e.g., carpooling, free-floating car sharing, on-demand taxi services, bike sharing, e-scooters, Mobility-as-a-Service solutions), and can be viewed as a tool to reduce congestion, emissions, and costs, or as a way to increase accessibility to daily activities. New technologies and innovations have enabled a “sharing economy” paradigm in society which is represented in the mobility sector by a diversity of sharing solutions from both the public and private sectors—that is, non-profit cooperative and grassroots initiatives, commercial providers offering on-demand rental services and operating platform business models, and governmental and local mobility solutions developed at the city level. Shared mobility innovations providing access to mobility instead of favorizing private car usage and ownership have the potential to increase people’s wellbeing, as they reduce the environmental impact of their daily travels while gaining in convenience. The overall purpose of this Special Issue is to focus on the user perspective on shared mobility in order to better understand the drivers, barriers, limitations, and potentials of diverse shared mobility solutions to contribute to a more sustainable society. We therefore wish to bring together distinguished researchers from a variety of academic backgrounds with the aim of presenting recent advances in this emerging field.

We welcome systematic reviews, meta-analyses, conceptual papers, experimental studies, empirical cases, online surveys, and intervention studies. No weight will be given to results being null, mixed, or positive. Studies on potential side effects of shared mobility (positive or negative) and methodological challenges are also welcome. If you are uncertain about whether your paper fits into the scope of this Special Issue, please contact the Guest Editors.

This Special Issue is open to any subject area related to shared mobility. The listed keywords suggest just a few of the many possibilities.

Prof. Dr. Margareta Friman
Prof. Dr. Lars Olsson
Dr. Hugo Guyader
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Accessibility
Combined mobility
Commuting
Daily travel
Integrated travel
Mobility-as-a-Service
Mode use
Nonownership
Shared mobility
Sharing economy
Social inclusion
Sustainable travel
Travel behavior
User experiences
Wellbeing

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Editorial

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14 pages, 2323 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Shared Mobility: Evolving Practices for Sustainability

by Hugo Guyader, Margareta Friman and Lars E. Olsson

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 12148; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112148 - 3 Nov 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4996

Abstract

This introductory paper to the Special Issue “Shared Mobility” aims (1) to present and differentiate the diversity of practices and services that constitute the shared mobility sector; (2) to emphasize the contribution of each published article; and (3) to identify knowledge gaps of knowledge and provide further research avenues. With the contribution from 29 authors affiliated to social sciences and transportation research institutions in seven countries (Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, Greece, Belgium, Norway, and Australia), new understandings of the potential, drivers, barriers, and limitations of diverse shared mobility solutions for a more sustainable society are presented. The common message across the special issue is that the shared mobility sector is constantly evolving, while aiming to attain sustainability goals. Several papers have taken a psychological approach to explain the adoption of shared mobility practices (e.g., carsharing), yet these findings may be context-dependent, which future research should further investigate (e.g., differences between platform-based and self-service modes). We also call for researchers to pay attention to how traditional transit services can be combined with newer shared mobility services (e.g., micro-mobility), but also to informal public transport systems, as we identify these as important developing areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shared Mobility)

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Research

Jump to: Editorial

17 pages, 1362 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Affecting Drivers to Participate in a Carpooling to Public Transport Service

by Lambros Mitropoulos, Annie Kortsari and Georgia Ayfantopoulou

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9129; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169129 - 14 Aug 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5271

Abstract

Several studies have focused on understanding travelers’ attitudes and characteristics toward using carpooling services. However, few of these studies have focused the driver’s behavior and carpooling services that are organized to feed public transport. This research investigates the willingness of drivers to accept a carpooling ride, as part of their trip, to/from public transport stations (i.e., rail, tram and metro). Data from the EU project Ride2Rail are used, for which a survey (n = 327) was conducted in EU27 and the UK. Fisher’s exact and chi-square tests are used to explore the relationships between drivers/non-drivers and explanatory variables. A binary logit model is developed to estimate the likelihood of carpooling as a driver to/from a public transport station. The results show that delay, convenience, residence location, security and the number of passengers influence the drivers’ decision toward using their private vehicle in carpooling services. Findings provide concrete recommendations for carpooling drivers regarding the planning of a successful carpooling service. The recommendations to “recruit” the drivers become significant, as the concept of carpooling cannot be realized without them. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shared Mobility)

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25 pages, 330 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Institutional Logics at Play in a Mobility-as-a-Service Ecosystem

by Hugo Guyader, Brenda Nansubuga and Karin Skill

Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8285; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158285 - 24 Jul 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3295

Abstract

The last decade has brought the transport sector to the forefront of discussions on sustainability and digital innovations: practitioners, researchers, and regulators alike have witnessed the emergence of a wide diversity of shared mobility services. Based on a longitudinal case study of a regional Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) ecosystem in Sweden, constituted of a document analysis and 24 semi-structured interviews with 18 representatives from regional authorities, mobility service providers, and other stakeholders from the public and private sectors, this study examines the co-existing and competing institutional logics at play, identified as State logic, Market logic, Sustainability logic, Experimental logic, and Service logic. The analysis reveals that these institutional logics pertain to tensions in the collaboration within the ecosystem’s stakeholders in terms of: (1) finding a common vision and scope for MaaS, (2) establishing a sustainable business model, (3) triggering a behavioral change regarding car travel, (4) being able to find one’s role within the project and to consequently collaborate with other stakeholders, and (5) managing uncertainty through testing and experimenting innovative solutions, which ultimately yielded key learnings about MaaS and the shared mobility ecosystem and its stakeholders. These case study findings, based on an institutional logics framework, provide a novel perspective on emerging ecosystems, from which implications for MaaS developers and further research on shared mobility are drawn. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shared Mobility)

25 pages, 785 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Institutional Strategies in the Ridesharing Economy: A Content Analysis Based on Uber’s Example

by Michaël Distelmans and Ilse Scheerlinck

Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 8037; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13148037 - 19 Jul 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5097

Abstract

Recently, scholars have paid growing attention to ridesharing economy firms’ institutional work to obtain legitimacy. More specifically, they have pinpointed the need for further research to better understand the actions of institutional entrepreneurs across geographical contexts. In this paper, we investigate Uber’s institutional strategies in the Brussels Capital Region from 2014 to 2020. Using the theoretical lens of institutional entrepreneurship, we apply content analysis of press media to analyse Uber in relation to authorities, incumbents, drivers and users. We also delve into the tactical aspects of Uber’s institutional work. The findings show that during the first years of operation, Uber predominantly used strategies of framing and lobbying. The company also made diverse articulations of theorization, collaboration, and negotiation. A more inductive reasoning reveals that market strategies also have a part in Uber’s institutional work. According to the findings, Uber’s quest for legitimacy in Brussels was not an unqualified success, due to conflicts and special interests complicating the market. We formulate recommendations on how actors may build a more sustainable market of ridesharing and provide some reflections on the theoretical framework. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shared Mobility)

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22 pages, 1018 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Sharing Anxiety Is in the Driver’s Seat: Analyzing User Acceptance of Dynamic Ridepooling and Its Implications for Shared Autonomous Mobility

by Sigma Dolins, Helena Strömberg, Yale Z. Wong and MariAnne Karlsson

Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7828; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147828 - 13 Jul 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2810

Abstract

As connected, electric, and autonomous vehicle (AV) services are developed for cities, the research is conclusive that the use of these services must be shared to achieve maximum efficiency. Yet, few agencies have prioritised designing an AV system that focuses on dynamic ridepooling, and there remains a gap in the understanding of what makes people willing to share their rides. However, in 2017, the Australian transport authority Transport for New South Wales launched over a dozen trials for on-demand, shared public transport, including AVs. In this paper, we investigate the user willingness-to-share, based on experiences from one of these trials. Four focus groups (19 participants in total) were held in New South Wales with active users of either the trialled on-demand dynamic ridepooling service (Keoride) or commercial ridepooling (UberPool). Through thematic analysis of the focus group conversations, the cost, comfort, convenience, safety, community culture, and trust in authority emerged as factors that influenced the willingness-to-share. When presented with driverless scenarios, the focus group participants had significant concerns about the unknown behaviour of their co-passengers, revealing sharing anxiety as a significant barrier to the adoption of shared AVs. This paper identifies previously disregarded factors that influence the adoption of AVs and dynamic ridepooling and offers insights on how potential users’ sharing anxiety can be mitigated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shared Mobility)

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18 pages, 791 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“Is Sharing Really Caring?”: The Role of Environmental Concern and Trust Reflecting Usage Intention of “Station-Based” and “Free-Floating”—Carsharing Business Models

by Marc Kuhn, Viola Marquardt and Sarah Selinka

Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7414; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137414 - 2 Jul 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2800

Abstract

Global use of carsharing has increased. The dominant model is station-based carsharing, but free-floating providers are continuously increasing their businesses volumes. Carsharing customers have been described as environmentally conscious with a high preference for mobility providers who show responsibility and trustworthiness. This generalization of usage determinants appears to be questionable given the background of current market developments. Existing research in the area is lacking a context-sensitive view of the antecedents of potential carsharing usage. Do environmental concerns and trust have similar effects on usage intention of carsharing, when free-floating providers implement business models that are more flexible, digital, and sophisticated? Using a standardized online survey, this study paper applied a framework adapted from the Theory of Planned Behavior (ToPB) that included the constructs of trust and environmental concern. The focus was on Share Now and Stadtmobil, which are the largest free-floating and station-based providers, respectively, in Germany. Using structural equation modeling, the study explored potential perception differences between both business models among German consumers. Although not significant, results indicate slightly higher total effects of environmental concern and initial trust on the usage intention of station-based compared to free-floating carsharing. Depending on the type of carsharing, different priorities should be set in the respective business model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shared Mobility)

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17 pages, 1428 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Does Car-Sharing Reduce Car Ownership? Empirical Evidence from Germany

by Aaron Kolleck

Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7384; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137384 - 1 Jul 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 8333

Abstract

The sharing economy is making its way into our everyday lives. One of its business models, car-sharing, has become highly popular. Can it help us increase our sustainability? Besides emissions and vehicle miles traveled, one key aspect in the assessment regards the effect of car-sharing on car ownership. Previous studies investigating this effect have relied almost exclusively on surveys and come to very heterogeneous results, partly suggesting spectacular substitution rates between shared and private cars. This study empirically explores the impact of car-sharing on noncorporate car ownership and car markets in 35 large German cities. The analysis draws on publicly available data for the years 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2017, including, among others, the number of shared cars per operating mode (free-floating and station-based) and the number of cars owned and registered by private individuals (i.e., excluding company cars). We find that one additional station-based car is associated with a reduction of about nine private cars. We do not find a statistically significant relation between car ownership and free-floating car-sharing. Neither type of car-sharing appears to impact the markets for used and new cars significantly. Given the measurable impacts on car ownership levels, this result is surprising and invites future research to study car-sharing’s impact on the dynamics of car markets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shared Mobility)

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17 pages, 643 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Psychology of Sharing: Multigroup Analysis among Users and Non-Users of Carsharing

by Érika Martins Silva Ramos and Cecilia Jakobsson Bergstad

Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6842; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126842 - 17 Jun 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2785

Abstract

The present study investigates the determinants of intention to use carsharing services by an integrated model of psychological predictors of travel behavior. The model proposed is tested by multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) in structural equation modeling (SEM) with further discussion about analysis of invariance and its relevance for comparisons between groups. The sample was classified into four groups: Italian users, Italian non-users, Swedish users, and Swedish non-users of carsharing. The users were respondents who have used or are currently using carsharing, while non-users reported never using the carsharing services. The analysis of data from 6072 respondents revealed that control was the main predictor of intention to use carsharing; driving habits had stronger negative effects for users of carsharing than for non-users; subjective norms positively predicted the intention to use carsharing among all groups; trust was a predictor of intention only for the Italian groups; and climate morality had a small negative effect on the Swedish groups only. The outcomes of this investigation will increase the knowledge about the use of carsharing and help to identify the behavioral and psychological factors that primarily influence people’s intention to use it. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shared Mobility)

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14 pages, 289 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trust and Sharing in Online Environments: A Comparative Study of Different Groups of Norwegian Car Sharers

by Tom Erik Julsrud and Tanu Priya Uteng

Sustainability 2021, 13(8), 4170; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084170 - 8 Apr 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2175

Abstract

Though multiple studies have explored the phenomenon of car sharing, very few have indulged into exploring how different forms of trust varies between users of different business models. We address this research gap through employing quantitative data analyses of car sharers in Norway. Results show that the levels of ingroup and outgroup-trust (i.e., trust towards friends/family or unfamiliar persons) are markedly low for the members of the peer-to-peer scheme (M = 3.4/2.9) as compared to the cooperative (M = 6.0/4.8) and business-to-consumer scheme (M = 5.7/4.4). In contrast, technology-based trust is more important for the P2P sharers (M = 5.8) than cooperative (M = 5.6) and the B2C users (M = 5.6). Our findings echo previous studies, indicating that a different set of institutional logics is driving the transactions at the emerging P2P platforms compared to former non-profit sharing communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shared Mobility)

31 pages, 2441 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intentions to Participate in Carsharing: The Role of Self- and Social Identity

by Loes M. Derikx and Dea van Lierop

Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2535; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052535 - 26 Feb 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3644

Abstract

Carsharing is becoming an increasingly popular mode of transportation in many cities around the world. Previous research has revealed that users tend to be young, are highly educated, have high incomes and live in densely populated neighbourhoods. However, this does not explain why people who have similar socioeconomic characteristics do not adopt carsharing when residing in comparable urban contexts. To assess the critical differences between users and non-users of carsharing, the current research uses the theory of planned behaviour as a theoretical framework to analyse how aspects of an individual’s social and self-identity determine their intentions to participate in carsharing. In-person intercept questionnaire data were collected in the Berlin neighbourhoods Schloßstraße, Steglitz and Glasower Straße, Neukölln in the fall of 2019 (N = 216). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were used to analyse the collected data. The model results suggest that having a pro-technology self-identity and negative pro-car identity are significantly associated with the intention to participate in carsharing. These associations are present in both the structural and alternative models. Moreover, both models indicate a negative relationship between individuals’ degree of environmental self-identity and the degree of their pro-car identity. The results suggest that, in order to promote carsharing, regional governments should focus on attracting new users who are currently already using mobility technology. The findings can be used by regional governments to identify potential carsharing users and to specifically target individuals who are likely to be willing to adopt and participate in carsharing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shared Mobility)

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15 pages, 6796 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Car Sharing as a Strategy to Address GHG Emissions in the Transport System: Evaluation of Effects of Car Sharing in Amsterdam

by Ana María Arbeláez Vélez and Andrius Plepys

Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 2418; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042418 - 23 Feb 2021

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 7435

Abstract

Shared mobility options, such as car sharing, are often claimed to be more sustainable, although evidence at an individual or city level may contradict these claims. This study aims to improve understanding of the effects of car sharing on transport-related emissions at an individual and city level. This is done by quantifying the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the travel habits of individuals before and after engaging with car sharing. The analysis uses a well-to-wheel (WTW) approach, including both business-to-consumer (B2C) and peer-to-peer (P2P) car-sharing fleets. Changes in GHG emissions after engaging in car sharing vary among individuals. Transport-related GHG emissions caused by car-free individuals tend to increase after they engage in car sharing, while emissions caused by previous car owners tend to fall. At the city level, GHG emissions savings can be achieved by using more efficient cars in sharing systems and by implementing greener mobility policies. Changes in travel habits might help to reduce GHG emissions, providing individuals migrate to low-carbon transport modes. The findings can be used to support the development and implementation of transport policies that deter car ownership and support shared mobility solutions that are integrated in city transport systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shared Mobility)

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22 pages, 2355 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation Methods for the Impacts of Shared Mobility: Classification and Critical Review

by Anastasia Roukouni and Gonçalo Homem de Almeida Correia

Sustainability 2020, 12(24), 10504; https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410504 - 15 Dec 2020

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6374

Abstract

In recent years, shared mobility services have had a growing presence in cities all over the world. Developing methodologies to measure and evaluate the impacts of shared mobility has therefore become of critical importance for city authorities. This paper conducts a thorough review of the different types of methods that can be used for this evaluation and suggests a classification of them. The pros and cons of each method are also discussed. The added value of the paper is twofold; first, we provide a systematic recording of the state of the art and the state of the practice regarding the evaluation of the impacts of shared mobility, from the perspective of city authorities, reflecting on their role, needs, and expectations. Second, by identifying the existing gaps in the literature, we highlight the specific needs for research and practice in this field that can help society figure out the role of urban shared mobility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shared Mobility)

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13 pages, 618 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carpoolers’ Perceived Accessibility of Carpooling

by Margareta Friman, Katrin Lättman and Lars E. Olsson

Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 8976; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12218976 - 29 Oct 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3440

Abstract

In order to constitute a realistic option to existing travel modes, carpooling needs to be able to offer adequate levels of accessibility. Insights into how carpooling services affect perceived accessibility up until now remain unexplored. In this study we explore carpooling experiences of 122 users in Sweden and examine a number of possible determinants of the perceived accessibility of carpooling. Results show that carpooling is not perceived by the users as particularly accessible with low levels across the sample. Moreover, multiple linear hierarchical regression analyses show that simplicity of travel, population density, years of education, and school and work-trips appear to affect perceptions of accessibility of carpooling, whereas travel time and cost appear not to. The final model explains a third of the variance in perceived accessibility of carpooling, thus nearly two thirds of the variation is still unaccounted for. Future research should explore further possible determinants of perceived accessibility of carpooling in order to explain, understand, and counteract the low levels of accessibility that appear to be linked to this specific travel mode. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shared Mobility)

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