Behavioral Determinants of Ridesharing Participation: Policy and Platform Design Implications

Abstract

Despite its potential to reduce congestion, peer-to-peer ridesharing adoption remains limited, pointing to an incomplete understanding of the behavioral determinants shaping travelers’ willingness to participate. To address this, the present study develops a stated preference survey to estimate willingness to engage in ridesharing as drivers or passengers under varying attributes. Findings indicate that students and academically educated commuters are more likely to rideshare, whereas higher income and flexible arrival times are associated with lower passenger participation. Additional time burdens like detours, walking, and waiting generate greater disutility than origin-to-destination travel time. Drivers are less sensitive to time and fuel costs when driving alone, but these factors become salient when considering ridesharing with a passenger, suggesting role-specific behavioral barriers. Results imply that platforms should prioritize matching algorithms that minimize detours, access, and waiting times. From a policy perspective, driver-targeted incentives can strengthen supply, while effective passenger-focused mechanisms remain an open challenge.