CARPOOLING: WHY NOT OR NOT ANYMORE?

The main purpose of this research was to gain more insight into motives, circumstances, and experiences regarding carpooling. This was done by means of more than 200 prestructured interviews among employees of a limited number of firms and institutions. Three types of employees were selected: (i) those who are actually carpooling; (ii) those who stopped carpooling; and (iii) those who have no experience with carpooling. The most important motives to start carpooling are: (a) Carpooling is cheaper than either driving alone or public transport; and (b) it is easier and faster than public transport. Most carpools are stopped, because a member of the pool moves to another residential or working location. Changing or varying working times also give rise to stop carpooling. Carpooling can be considered as an acceptable travel mode if: (1) it is not more expensive than public transport; (2) it does not require more travel time than public transport; (3) it requires only limited extra travel time with regard to the drive alone alternative; (4) members of the pool are picked up at their home and working addresses; (5) working times coincide; and (6) members of the carpool are acquaintances. For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 862276.