Share the ride: The determinants of long-distance carpooling pricing strategies in France

Thierry Blayac, Patrice Bougette and Jules Duberga

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 2026, vol. 204, issue C

Abstract: This paper investigates the pricing strategies used in long-distance carpooling in France. We investigate how several factors affect carpooling prices using a comprehensive dataset of BlaBlaCar trips combined with sociodemographic and intermodal competition data. The analysis identifies two distinct pricing patterns within the platform: one characterized by standardized and consistent pricing, and another marked by more flexible, market-responsive price setting. By focusing on price per minute, we examine how trip characteristics, competitive conditions, and demand heterogeneity affect these pricing behaviors. The results show that variables such as the number of stopovers, trip length, airport or cross-border connections, and the presence of alternative transport modes influence pricing, but with contrasting effects across the two patterns. The standardized approach tends to reflect cost-sharing principles and reinforces network effects, while the more flexible approach adapts dynamically to local competition and demand.

Keywords: Carpooling; Pricing strategy; Platforms; Intermodal competition; Travel behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2025.104764

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