Measuring tradeoffs in carpool driving arrangement preferences

In each of two experiments evaluations were obtained of alternative carpooling situations varying in driving arrangement, size of carpool, distance traveled, and amount of time to pick up and deliver passengers. College students in Experiment I rated each situation in terms of comfort, economy, convenience and overall desirability. Shared driving emerged as the most desirable driving arrangement, and results suggested that this was due to a tradeoff of the perceived economic advantages of being the driver and the perceived greater comfort and convenience of being a rider. Driving all the time was the least preferred arrangement for females, and riding all the time was the least preferred arrangement for males. Desirability ratings decreased as carpool size increased, and this was interpreted to indicate that perceived economic advantages of large pools were outweighed by large perceived decreases in comfort and convenience. The major results of Experiment I were replicated in Experiment II, using university employees who were either currently in carpools or seeking to find carpools. Results are discussed in terms of the practical implications of the findings concerning driving arrangement and carpool size preferences, and in terms of the usefulness of controlled experimental designs for understanding the processes-underlying ride-sharing attitudes and behavior.