Shared Mobility - What is it?
Shared Mobility
Shared mobility services are transportation services shared amongst different users. These include:
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Public Transit
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Taxis
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Limos
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Shuttle Services
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Bike-sharing
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Car-pooling
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Van-pooling
Shared transportation has grown rapidly over the years especially due to environmental, energy and economic concerns which have intensified the need for sustainable alternatives.
Also with many advances in electronic and wireless technologies, it has made sharing assets easier and much more efficient. Motor manufacturers, rental car companies, and other entrepreneurial start-ups have come up with new solutions to aid shared mobility.
Large physical networks have been created connected to mobile applications designed to alter routes, fill empty seats and combine fare media and real-time departure and arrival information.
Large physical networks have been created connected to mobile applications designed to alter routes, fill empty seats and combine fare media and real-time departure and arrival information.
These new services represent innovative responses to the demand for new options and offer an opportunity to:
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Provide more mobility choices
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Reduce traffic congestion
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Mitigate various forms of pollution
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Reduce transportation costs
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Reduce fossil fuel consumption
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Reduce pressures on parking spaces
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Improve efficiency
One of the most commonly understood shared mobility concepts would be car-pooling. Car-pooling is where two or more commuters can share a journey in one of their own vehicles.
The best carpooling arrangements are usually very flexible as it does not have to be every day. Carpoolers usually share the driving and expenses or one person may drive most or all of the time, in which case the passenger shares operating expenses with the driver.
The car-sharing concept has morphed into a business model in recent years. These services provide members of the car-sharing network with access to a car for short-term – usually hourly – use.
The shared cars are located across a network in strategic locations within a metropolitan area where you can access the car at any time with a reservation and charged either by time-limit or by the mile. The great advantage of this model is that it provides some of the benefits of a personal vehicle without the costs of owning it.
Author
Justin Kavanagh
Justin Kavanagh is a recognised leader
in automotive intelligence and vehicle
data supply to the entire motor industry.
He has almost 20 years experience in
building systems from the ground up.
As the Managing Director of Vehicle
Management System, he understands the
need and importance of trustworthy and
reliable vehicle history and advice to
both the trade and the public.
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