New Mobility Case Study
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Date
2018
Authors
Cohen, Rachel
Skov, Joshua
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
The city of Eugene is interested in learning how its residents might benefit from technology-enabled ‘new mobility’ solutions to differently meet their transportation needs.
Student teams analyzed how members of a fictional or real household in Eugene could reduce their reliance on single-occupancy vehicles in daily commutes, local and regional trips, and infrequent travel destinations. For this project, new mobility is defined as a transportation mode that is:
• enabled by new technologies, including electric and autonomous vehicles, or;
• enabled by new business models or social trends, sometimes referred to as shared-use mobility (a categorization that typically includes bikesharing, carsharing, e-scooters, ridehailing, and even transit at various scales).
The implications of shifting a household’s transportation habits created tradeoffs between competing priorities of cost, time, flexibility, and sustainability. In order to understand
the financial implications, students were asked to analyze the full—and often overlooked—costs of vehicle ownership. Upon completing this analysis, many teams found significant
savings opportunities in adopting active transportation and shared-use mobility. Beyond financial cost, teams discovered opportunities, trade-offs, and barriers to adoption.
Teams found that households best served by existing new mobility solutions lived closest to the city center. Feasibility was often complicated by demographic factors including income,
age, and occupation. Cultural norms and attitudes toward car ownership played a role in whether households shifted their behavior, both for fictional household members and for the
authors.
Where currently available options were not feasible, students identified modes in other markets that might benefit Eugene residents. Students also examined emerging and future
technologies not currently in existence. While feasibility varied widely based on currently available modes, the city of Eugene can foster a transition to new mobility through partnerships that support multimodal first- and last-mile solutions. The City can also work to
educate residents by using tools and messaging to improving awareness,
perception, and trust in new mobility options.
Description
18 pages
Keywords
Paratransit services, Ridesharing, Autonomous vehicles