Ridehailing use, travel patterns and multimodality: A latent-class cluster analysis of one-week GPS-based travel diaries in California

Based on the analysis of one-week GPS-based travel diary data from the four largest metropolitan areas in California, this study performs a latent-class cluster analysis and identifies four distinctive traveler groups with varying levels of multimodality. These groups are characterized by their distinctive use of five travel modes (i.e., single-occupant vehicles, carpooling, public transit, biking, and walking) for both work and non-work trips. Two of these groups are more car-oriented and less multimodal (i.e., drive-alone users and carpoolers), whereas the other two are less car-oriented and display higher levels of multimodality (i.e., transit users and cyclists). Results from this study reveal the unique profiles of each traveler group in terms of their sociodemographic characteristics and built-environment attributes. The study further investigates the different characteristics of each traveler group in relation to ridehailing adoption, trip frequency and trip attributes. Transit users are found to have the highest rate of ridehailing adoption and usage. They are also more prone to use pooled ridehailing services in comparison to other groups. In terms of mode substitution, if ridehailing were not available, respondents tend to choose the mode they use most frequently. In other words, car-based travelers are more likely to substitute ridehailing trips with car trips, whereas non-car-based travelers are more likely to replace ridehailing with less-polluting modes. The findings from this study will prove valuable for transit agencies and policymakers interested in integrating ridehailing with other modes and promoting more multimodal and less car-dependent lifestyles.