Ride-hailing services: Competition or complement to public transport to reduce accident rates. The case of Madrid

Abstract

IntroductionThe transport and mobility sector is experiencing profound transformations. These changes are mainly due to: environmental awareness, the increase in the population of large urban areas and the size of cities, the aging of the population and the emergence of relevant technological innovations that have changed consumption habits, such as electronic commerce or the sharing economy. The introduction of new services such as Uber or Cabify is transforming urban and metropolitan mobility, which has to adapt to this new scenario and the very concept of mobility.ObjectiveThus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate whether ride-hailing platforms substitute or complement public transport to reduce accident rates, considering the two basic transport zones of Madrid: “The Central Almond” and the periphery.MethodsThe data were collected from the 21 districts of Madrid for the period 2013–2019, and they were analyzed by a Random Effects Negative Binominal model.ResultsThe results obtained in this study suggest that since the arrival of Uber and Cabify to the municipality of Madrid the number of fatalities and serious injuries in traffic accidents has been reduced. Traffic accidents on weekends and holidays, with at least one serious injury or death, have also been reduced. However, the number of minor injuries has increased in the central districts of Madrid.ConclusionOverall, what was found in this study supports the hypothesis that these services replace the urban buses. However, these services improve the supply to users with greater difficulties to access taxis or public transport, constituting an alternative mode of transport for high-risk drivers. Therefore, such findings may be quite useful for policy makers to better define regulatory policies for these services.

Analysis of the Location Factors Affecting the Price of Tourist Houses: The Role of Accessibility to Public Transport Stations in Madrid

“…Public transport is mostly used for radial journeys between the Central Almond and the Periphery (two-thirds of motorised are radial) as a result of the excellent supply of all public modes of transport such as bus stops and metro stops in different districts of the city [25] (Figures 3 and 4). On the other hand, for journeys made wholly in the Periphery, the car is the most used of the motorised modes of transport (56%), mainly due to the fact that the transport network is mainly focused on Centre-Periphery movements and hardly contemplates movements between Peripheries [26].…”

“…However, we could say that, in the case of Madrid, access to certain modes of public transport is not equally distributed throughout the city, with areas where mobility is more difficult. For example, Figures 5 and 6 show that some districts in On the other hand, for journeys made wholly in the Periphery, the car is the most used of the motorised modes of transport (56%), mainly due to the fact that the transport network is mainly focused on Centre-Periphery movements and hardly contemplates movements between Peripheries [26].…”

Ride-Hailing Preferences for First- and Last-Mile Connectivity at Intercity Transit Hubs

“…Studies conclude that implementing effective policies for RHSs could improve not only mobility but also sustainability in urban areas [2][3][4]. Previous research reveals that RHSs have some positive effects, such as reducing the number of private vehicle owners [5], parking demand [6][7][8], the risk of drunk driving [9,10], and accident rates [11]. RHSs are also beneficial for transit users as a first-and last-mile (FLM)-mode option to reach transit hubs.…”

Understanding the motivational mechanisms behind the usage frequency of ride-hailing during COVID-19 pandemic

“…The utilization of mobile technology has had a considerable impact on the form of transportation services and the way passengers travel ( 1 , 2 ). For instance, passengers can now use ride-hailing services to request a driver to pick them up at a specified location ( 3 – 6 ).…”