Is it the trip or the trip-maker? Modelling factors influencing the demand induced by the availability of ride-sourcing services in Metro Vancouver

The availability of ride-sourcing services, such as those provided by Uber and Lyft, can increase individuals’ mobility and ease with which they can participate in out-of-home activities. Despite these benefits, ride-sourcing services could also induce additional travel demand, which may increase vehicle miles travelled and worsen congestion, especially if ride-sourcing vehicles occupy road space without transporting passengers. Given the negative externalities that may come about from induced ride-sourcing trips, it is important to understand the factors that influence whether a given trip would have been made had ride-sourcing services not been available. This study uses survey data collected from Metro Vancouver, Canada, in 2022, various geospatial data, and a binary logistic regression model to investigate the attributes of induced trips and the individuals making them. Individuals such as wheelchair-accessible taxi users and young adults with lower incomes are more likely to report having made an induced trip. The model also shows that induced trips tend to originate from home and are made to run errands. The built environment surrounding the trip origin and destination, such as sidewalk length, land-use types, and dwelling composition, are also determinants in induced ride-sourcing trips. The results of this study can help guide planning decisions that encourage these trips to be made by more sustainable modes.