A Study on Shared Mobility Options and their

Sustainability in Chennai City

By: Benisha. B
Mariammal. S
Shanmugapriya. P

Guide: Dr. P. Chandrasekar

Aim of the study
To study and understand the usefulness and
possibility of sustainability in the case of
shared mobility options such as share-cabs
Need for the study

• To find whether share-cabs are complementary

or competing to public transport
• Is there a need for regulation?
• Can it be sustainable?
Objectives of this study

1. To study various aspects of share-cab

operations in urban areas.
2. To assess the level of sustainability of share-
cabs as a complementary mode of transport.
Scope of this study
Spatial scope: Study
are is Ambattur and
it’s surrounding.
Four key stake
holders are
considered:
Passengers, road
users, drivers and
owners.
 Literature Review
 Kodransky and Lewenstein explored the possibilities of shared
mobility options like car-share, bike-share and ride-share in
becoming complementary to local public transit services.
 Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority study conducted
in Chennai reported an average trip length of around 7 km for auto
rickshaws and around 12 km for share autos, both for work,
business and social purposes. The study recommends a goal of 70
% public transport usage in the year 2026.
 Prabhu et al conducted a detailed study on paratransit system in
Chennai. A comparison of similar share auto services in other
developing countries such as Indonesia and Thailand. The study
revealed several facts that were unknown or not documented
before. Recognition of share autos as a formal and regulated mode
is highly emphasized in the study.
 Literature Review (Continued)
 A study in the town of Dindigul in Tamilnadu found that safety
of passengers is ignored by share auto drivers (Subeniran). From
passenger and driver surveys, the study implied that government
should intervene and impose suitable enforcement and formulate
regulatory measures to enhance share auto operations.
 Ciancaglini et al provided a framework and basic software
application for community-driven shared mobility option using
cars This was intended not to rely on new IT infrastructure but to
use. existing mobile devices or desktop computer with internet
facility. A trip maker can share information like availability of
seats, time of travel etc among a group of members registered
for sharing purpose.
 Methodology

Literature Review

Questionnaire
Data Collection
Survey

Passengers, road Analysis (includes

users, drivers index calculations)
and owners
Findings and
recommendations
 DATA COLLECTION
Questionnaire surveys (four stake-holders):

 Passengers
 Road users
 Drivers
 Owners
A respondent
(driver) filling our
questionnaire:
ANALYSIS
Passenger survey analysis on comfort level

Regular user Occasional user

Respondents opinion on comfort level of Respondents opinion on comfort level
share-cab
Very good Good Average
Very good Good Average Poor Very poor
Poor Very poor
5% 11% 4% 8%
5% 8%

26% 29%

53%
50%
Passenger survey analysis on comfort level
with respect to age
Comparison of respondents opinion on comfort level with age

80
70 66.67

60 56
50
50
Percentage

20 & Below 20
40 37.5
33.33 21-40
30 41-60
12.5 20 Above 60
20
12 12
10
0 0 0 0 0 0
0
Very good Good Average Poor Very poor

Comfort level
 Passenger survey analysis on quality of
service
120

100
100

80
58.33
Percentage

60 20 & below 20
50 21- 40
44.44
41-60
40 44.44
Above 60
25 25 25
20
11.11 12.5
4.17
0 0 0 0 0
0
Very good Good Average Poor Very poor

Quality of service
Passenger survey analysis on safety level

Comparison of respondents opinion on safety level with age

100 100

77.78
Percentage

54.17 20 & Below 20

21-40
45.83
41-60
Above 60
22.22

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Verygood Good Average Poor Very poor

Safety level
Passenger survey analysis on security of
share-cab
Regular user Occasional user
Respondents opinion on se- Respondents opinion on se-
curity in Share-cab curity in Share-cab
Very good Good Very good Good Average
5% Poor Very4%
poor
8%
29%
37%
32%
21%

26% 38%
Passenger survey analysis on travelling with
opposite gender
Regular user Occasional user
Respondents opinion on travelling with Respondents opinion on travelling with
opposite gender i Share-cab opposite gender in Share-cab
Doesn't matter Doesn't matter Uncomfortable
Uncomfortable
21%

38%

63%

79%
Road-user survey analysis on lane behavior

Respondents opinion on lane behaviour

Very good Good Average

Poor Very poor
5%
22%
44%

29%
 Road user survey analysis on driving
behavior
Respondents opinion on driving behaviour of
Share-cab

Very good Good Average Poor Very poor

7%
2%
39%

32%

20%
Road user analysis on parking of share-cab

Respondents opinion on parking of share-cab

Uncomfortable Interference Inconvenience
20%
34%

46%
Sustainability Index value
Sustainability Index Value (continued)
Sustainability Index Value (continued)
 CONCLUSIONS
 Based on the sustainability index (which is more than 2.5 on a
scale of 1 to 5), it is found that share-cabs can be a sustainable
mode of transportation in urban areas like Chennai.

 Currently share- cab is operated on an informal basis. Suitable

regulations should be made so that the share-cabs could be
preferable mode for trip makers. This could decrease private
vehicle ownership and hence effective for controlling the road
congestion on a long term basis.

 Contribution: methodology used can be adopted to study any

similar mode in the future.
THANK YOU