Abstract Rapid motorization and fuel cost hike over the past few years have made carpool a new mode of travel in Chinese cities. But transportation policy makers have been rather ambivalent, if not indifferent, about carpool. Unlike cities in highly motorized societies, little is known about carpooling behavior in emerging economies such as China. This paper provides an initial discussion of carpooling in China by exploring a series of questions. What are the current practice and issues of carpool in Chinese cities? How do carpools in China compare with those in the motorized Western cities? Can carpools help Chinese cities mitigate the negative impacts of rapid motorization? Are foreign policies such as High-Occupancy-Vehicle (HOV) lanes transferable to China? Acknowledging the social benefits of voluntary carpooling, this paper argues: (1) bus lanes may be a better choice than HOV lanes when converting general motor vehicle lanes; (2) policies subsidizing carpoolers cannot be justified on either efficiency or equity grounds because a marginal carpooler is more likely transitioning from a transit user or non-motorized traveler than from a driver. Policy suggestions are proposed to Chinese decision makers.

    Highlights ► Carpool means more private cost savings, but has less impact on reducing vehicle-miles traveled or congestion in China than in the industrialized West. ► Carpool is barely as socially cost-effective as alternative modes in China. ► Chinese government should abolish any prohibition or discouragement of carpooling, as voluntary carpools benefit participants without jeopardizing the rest of society. ► Policies subsidizing carpoolers cannot be justified on either efficiency or equity grounds because a marginal carpooler is more likely transitioning from a transit user or non-motorized traveler than from a driver. ► Bus lanes may be a better choice than HOV lanes when converting general motor vehicle lanes.


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    Titel :

    Shaping carpool policies under rapid motorization: the case of Chinese cities


    Beteiligte:
    Wang, Rui (Autor:in)

    Erschienen in:

    Transport Policy ; 18 , 4 ; 631-635


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2011-01-01


    Format / Umfang :

    5 pages




    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch