On promoting modal shift via Generalized Ride-Sharing

In the last decades, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and, in particular, the Internet technologies have shown a great capability of changing people behaviors in different activities of the daily life, providing an easy access to many information, allowing on-line shop, planning mobility, and so on. In this framework, designing transportation supply systems that take advantage of these new features has become an interesting task to cope with. In this paper, a Generalized Ride Sharing (GRS) system is proposed as an innovative and integrated transportation supply that connects already existing modes (Taxis, Buses, Car-Sharing and Ride-Sharing) with the aim of better satisfying the users' needs and promote a modal shift from private vehicles towards more sustainable transportation modes.