Evaluating the Effect of Switching Taxi Demand into Ridesharing Mode: A Case Study in Chicago

The rapidly expanded urban landscapes lead to an escalation of traffic congestion and its consequences in terms of overall de lay experienced by travelers. Ridesharing emerges as a sustainable and practical method to reduce traffic congestion in urban are as. This paper analyzes and quantifies the macroscopic effects of converting a sizeable portion of taxi rides from conventional d irect point - to - point service into a ridesharing modality in a large metropolitan area, using an available large set of taxi trips from Chicago. We simulate and evaluate the pros and cons of various scenarios of ridesharing modalities, starting with a pairing m ode, with maximum of two passengers, up to a full ridesharing mode, with four passengers per vehicle. In particular, we aim to maximize the reduction of total driven miles, yet ensure an acceptable level of service to passengers by imposing a maximum additional waiting time of 15 minutes and a journey time increased by half compared to the traditional cab rides. Results sho w up to more than 50% less total driven miles with only an average of about 11% extra time on vehicle per passenger. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to evaluate the effect of ridesharing capacity and service levels with expected yet now quantified tre nds. The following actions ordered by effectiveness will positively influence the total mileage savings: 1) increase the maximum number of passengers matched together to one vehicle, 2) Increase acceptance of an extra time in relation to the travel time, 3) Increase the waiting time availability of other passengers for ridesharing. The experiment aims to provide tools and detailed information for planners and policymakers to intervene by incentivizing a conversion, even if partial, of the taxi services i nto ridesharing service, presenting an opportunity to improve traffic conditions and the overall efficiency of the transportation system.