Growth in the urban population is directly correlated with traffic congestion, and most large U.S. cities are experiencing this phenomenon. Traffic congestion causes not only traffic jams but also economic losses, such as fuel waste (Schrank et al., 2015; INRIX, 2018) and changes in our travel behavior. For instance, as demand for public transportation may be declining, demand for ride-sharing services has increased.
Travel behavior differs by income class and age cohort. With the introduction and success of services like Uber, Lyft, and others, this study seeks to understand the travel behaviors of two age cohorts in the United States, the Millennials and the Generation X’ers, to mitigate traffic congestion. Researchers will survey users of ride-hailing, ride-sharing, and ride-matching services in the Southeastern United States to obtain new primary data for the two age cohorts. They will also analyze primary data to determine cause and effect and make recommendations to reduce traffic congestion. Specific results, such as 1) evaluation of travel behaviors, 2) cause and effect of generation shift and technology development, and 3) the correlation between travel behaviors and socio-demographic, economic, and urbanization factors, will contribute to the safety, sustainability, and economic efficiency of the future transportation system.
For more information on this project, contact:
Dr. Abhinav Alakshendra
Department of Urban & Regional Planning
University of Florida
shendra@dcp.ufl.edu