Abstract The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential for volunteer driver systems in rural areas. Volunteer driver systems in which volunteers are reimbursed for mileage are hypothesized to be a cost-effective means of providing high quality, specialized transportation in rural areas. The reasons for the growth of volunteer driver systems are outlined in terms of their advantages and disadvantages. Volunteer driver systems are used extensively in Wisconsin to provide specialized transportation service for the elderly and handicapped. The potential for expanding these systems exists as the result of a new state operating assistance program. Two well-developed volunteer driver systems which serve rural areas in Wisconsin are analyzed and compared with paid driver systems using vans. Models are developed to compare the costs of volunteer driver and van systems. The analysis shows that volunteer driver systems provide high quality door-through-door service with lower costs per trip than all but the most productive van systems. With professional direction problems of volunteer recruitment and retention, volunteer reliability, and driver safety can be minimized. Insurance is a problem but has not severly restricted the growth of volunteer systems in Wisconsin. Volunteer systems can best serve high priority trips. Van systems are better when extensive grouping of rides is possible. Finally, implications of the results for federal operating assistance are discussed.
Evaluation of rural volunteer driver transportation systems in Wisconsin
Transportation Research Part A: General ; 13 , 5 ; 309-315
1979-02-17
7 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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