Analyzing the influence of transit pass ownership on the determinants of ride-sourcing frequency in Metro Vancouver: Implications for policy and urban mobility planning

Amid the growing popularity and prevalence of ride-sourcing, there has been interest in examining the determinants of ride-sourcing frequency. Studies on the topic have noted the influence of socio-demographic attributes on ride-sourcing frequency. Additionally, limited studies have investigated the impact of public transit use and transit pass ownership on ride-sourcing frequency. However, studies of this nature treat transit pass ownership and transit use as explanatory variables. Consequently, additional work is needed to develop a more nuanced understanding of the determinants of ride-sourcing frequency. This study estimates an exogenous switching hurdle model to examine whether the determinants of ride-sourcing frequency (and their impacts) differ based on transit pass ownership among residents of Metro Vancouver. Using data from a web-based survey, ride-sourcing frequency was jointly modelled along with transit pass ownership and ride-sourcing adoption. The results highlight the potential for the determinants of ride-sourcing frequency to differ between segments of ride-sourcing users based on transit pass ownership. Overall, the results underscore the potential for the determinants of ride-sourcing use (and their impacts) to vary among different segments of ride-sourcing users. The information presented in this study can help inform efforts to mitigate the negative externalities associated with ride-sourcing by highlighting the potential value of a targeted approach to policy development.