Ridesharing: Its potential, challenges, and future in France

In recent years ridesharing, for both local and inter-city trips, has been a fast-growing sector in France.Nonprofessional drivers and passengers share the same ride under the cost-sharing principle. The practice isencouraged by the 2019 Loi d'Orientation de la Mobilité (hereafter called LOM), or mobility orientation law,which gives it more policy clout. In this note, we will review the historical development of ridesharing and showhow it is connected to the main business models in today's French market. We then highlight some common trendsin organizing ridesharing services. Business models diverge according to distance and geography and convergeinside each market. We also review the debates on the environmental and societal impacts of ridesharing. Weconclude by giving insights on promoting ridesharing in the long term. On the basis of research findings, we arguethat although tangible benefits are indispensable for behavioural change, non-monetary incentives should be givenmore attention to sustain the behaviour in the long run. Practitioners, policy makers and academics shouldcollaborate to achieve this goal.