Evolution of Transportation Network Companies and Taxis through 2013–2018 in Chicago

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to highlight important differences between taxis and transportation network companies (TNCs) in a large urban area. We analyze the publicly available dataset from Chicago which includes taxi and transportation network company (TNC) utilization and the level of service measures from five months in 2013–2014 and the same five months in 2018–2019. We compare and contrast the data from these two points in time to document utilization of taxis and TNCs and to measure differences in travel times, travel distances, fares, destinations served, and the spatial and temporal distribution of these trips. Travel to and from airports has been evaluated separately owing to the exceptionally high number of trips they generate. Striking differences between pooled and unpooled TNC trip volumes and other travel metrics have been assessed to highlight their operational diversity despite being considered as the same mode. The exploratory analysis has been carried out across the shared-ride, time, and mode dimensions. The study revealed both similarities and differences in taxi trip characteristics between the two evaluation periods and also outlined how the ridehailing market has grown over the years despite the near stagnation in population and employment in the city. We believe that assessing how taxis have fared through this time and highlighting the intrinsic differences between how the old and new mode of on-demand ride services coexist is important. This study aims to help understand how new-age mobility services are impacting transportation in one of the largest cities in the U.S.

Understanding Ride-Hailing Sharing and Matching in Chicago Using Travel Time, Cost, and Choice Models

“…In the U.S., Chicago alone had nearly 200,000 ride-hailing trips throughout an average weekday during February 2020 ( 1 ). Ride-hailing ridership more than quadrupled between 2013 and 2018 in Chicago and then leveled off throughout 2019 and 2020 ( 2 ). More recently, Covid-19 caused ridership to drop-off.…”