Casual Carpooling as a Strategy to Implement Mobility-as-a-Service schemes in a Developing Country

Mobility as a Service (MaaS) goal is to offer tailored-made on-demand mobility solutions by integrating on a single service, public and private transport modes. However, the concept is still uncertain, and its current development and applicability is centered on developed countries. On the other hand, we advocate that MaaS is modular, adaptable and applicable to several realities. In developing countries where public transport is mostly inefficient and insufficient, MaaS schemes could help to "balance the scale" with private transportation offerings, such as: rides (casual carpooling). Thereby, our general objective was to identify the motivating factors of the practice of casual carpooling and propose a strategy to implement it in a MaaS scheme. The survey was applied to 307 university students in the city Lavras-Brazil. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques and Web Scraping. We assumed that the casual carpooling is sustained by solidarity; simplicity and agility; no costs to passengers; and pickup points. As strategy to implement it, 4 pillars were identified: unified drop-off points; modal customization; remuneration for credit; and no costs for passengers. We concluded that casual carpooling may be a supplement mode on MaaS schemes in lastmiles commutes or in places with inefficient public transport.