Dr Abraham Leung1, Ms Thi Phuong Linh Le2, Prof. Tim Ryley3, Dr Catherine Earl4
1Cities Research Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia, 2School of Science & Technology, RMIT University Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 3Griffith Aviation, School of Engineering & Built Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia, 4School of Communication and Design, RMIT Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Ridehailing is an emerging mode which may offer significant benefits in terms of greater multimodality and a reduction in the need to own a vehicle. However, scant attention has been given to developing countries, especially for traffic saturated and motorcycle dominated cities in Asia. The effects of the introduction of ridehailing in these cities are not well understood, as is the relationship between travel behaviour and life choice of this transport mode. Based on a city-wide survey (N=630), cluster-based analysis is performed to segment eight districtive life stage groups for young-to-middle aged (18-38 years old) residents in Ho Chi Minh City. Life stage is found to be a key determinate of ridehailing frequency, whereas distance is mostly the same across life stages. Younger and early life stages (students, part-timers or lower earners) are early adopters of ridehailing but limited personal budget restricts its use. Conversely, middle-aged, higher-income and high educational attainment exhibited a higher frequency of ridehailing use. The findings are summarised into life choice implications (life stages, trip-making, family/social network, and attitudes). Future transport policy regarding travel, in particular, the integration of shared and conventional mobility, should consider life stage effects.
Biography
Dr Abraham Leung is a postdoctoral researcher with interests on the interrelationship of transport, land use and energy, with a strong skillset of spatial analysis and GIS. He is developing an international research profile by significantly collaborating in the field of socio-spatial, land use & transport and equity with a growing research network.