Identifying Vehicle Preferences and System Requirements of Potential Users of Shared Mobility Systems (SMS)

Abstract

Shared mobility systems (SMS) enable short-term on-demand access to mobility without the costs and responsibilities that come with vehicle ownership. A careful investigation of the motivation, values, and barriers that different socio-demographic groups have towards SMS may shed light on the gaps that mobility providers may still need to fill in order to attract broader population groups. The objective of this paper is an investigation of the conditions under which potential users would adopt sharing services and which vehicles they would prefer in the context of SMS. We explore (i) the willingness of individuals to use SMS, (ii) the preferences of potential users regarding types of vehicles in SMS, and (iii) requirements towards the features and design of SMS. We study the characteristics of potential users and non-users of SMS. Furthermore, we associate socio-demographic and travel behavior attributes of potential users to their SMS preferences and requirements. These effects might be a valuable source of knowledge for tailored system designs and setups for SMS providers. By working with audience segmentation, SMS communicators may develop persuasive messages customized for each group.