Carpooling as an Immediate Strategy to Post-Lockdown Mobility: A Case Study in University Campuses

Ricardo Tomás, Paulo Fernandes, Joaquim Macedo and Margarida Cabrita Coelho
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Ricardo Tomás: University of Aveiro, Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation (TEMA), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Paulo Fernandes: University of Aveiro, Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation (TEMA), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Joaquim Macedo: University of Aveiro, Aveiro Research Center for Risks and Sustainability in Construction (RISCO), Department of Civil Engineering, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Margarida Cabrita Coelho: University of Aveiro, Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation (TEMA), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-22

Abstract: Carpooling is a mobility concept that has been showing promising results in reducing single occupancy use of private cars, which prompted many institutions, namely universities, to implement carpooling platforms to improve their networks sustainability. Nowadays, currently under a pandemic crisis, public transportation must be used with limitations regarding the number of occupants to prevent the spread of the virus and commuters are turning even more to private cars to perform their daily trips. Carpooling under a set of precaution rules is a potential solution to help commuters perform their daily trips while respecting COVID-19 safety recommendations. This research aimed to develop an analysis of the road traffic and emission impacts of implementing carpooling, with social distancing measures, in three university campus networks through microscopic traffic simulation modeling and microscopic vehicular exhaust emissions estimation. Results indicate that employing carpooling for groups of up to three people to safely commute from their residence area to the university campus has the potential to significantly reduce pollutant emissions (reductions of 5% and 7% in carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides can be obtained, respectively) within the network while significantly improving road traffic performance (average speed increased by 7% and travel time reduced by 8%).

Keywords: carpooling; post-pandemic mobility; pollutants emissions; traffic performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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