Is Ride-Hailing a Step Closer to Personal Car Use? Exploring Associations between Car-Based Ride-Hailing and Car Ownership and Use Aspirations among Young Adults
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Date
2023
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Travel Behaviour and Society
Abstract
New and emerging ICT-mediated mobility services, such as ride-hailing, are shaping travel behaviours with
profound implications for sustainable urban transport and mobility. Despite the growing literature on ride-hailing’s
impact on travel behaviour, there is a dearth of evidence on the possible influence of this relatively new
form of car-based transport on car ownership and use aspirations, and future travel behaviour. We address this
gap in the literature by answering the question: does car-based ride-hailing explain aspirations for private car-based
transport among young adults? We mobilise a conceptual model that accounts for the possible influences on car
ownership and use aspirations of individuals’ perceived similarities between ride-hailing and private car use;
perceived benefits of ride-hailing; attitude toward car ownership and use; attitude toward the environment; as
well as socio-demographic attributes. We test this model empirically in a developing country context where there
is a growing use of car-based ride-hailing services, especially among young demographics. We found that individuals
perceived close similarities between car-based ride-hailing and private car use, and that attitude toward
car use (instrumental aspects) and perceived benefits of ride-hailing had a direct positive influence on their
perceptions. Car ownership and use aspirations were strongly underpinned by individuals’ experience using carbased
ride-hailing as well as the social-symbolic meaning of the private car. We also found a dissonance between
individuals’ pro-environmental attitude and their desire for car ownership and use. We conclude that ride-hailing
is fulfilling an immediate preference for car-based transport among our study participants. Car-based ride-hailing
could therefore be a step closer to realizing personal car ownership and use aspirations. We reflect on the implications
for creating sustainable urban transport and mobility futures.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Ride-hailing, Car ownership and use, Future mobility, Aspirations