Towards Sustainable Mobility: Factors Influencing the Intention to Use Ride-Sharing in the Post-Pandemic Era

Kun Wang, Linfeng Qi, Shuo Yang, Cheng Wang (), Rensu Zhou and Jing Liu
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Kun Wang: College of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, China
Linfeng Qi: College of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, China
Shuo Yang: College of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, China
Cheng Wang: School of Architecture & Urban Planning, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, China
Rensu Zhou: College of Civil Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, China
Jing Liu: School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-17

Abstract: As a key element of the sharing economy, ride-sharing plays a vital role in promoting sustainable urban mobility by optimizing vehicle utilization rates, lowering carbon emissions, and alleviating traffic congestion. Despite its cost-efficiency and sustainability benefits, ride-sharing adoption remains limited in the post-pandemic period due to behavioral changes and safety concerns. Accordingly, using survey data from 425 commuters in Hefei, concerns about COVID-19 and satisfaction with ride-sharing services were integrated into the theory of planned behavior framework. Structural equation modeling was applied to examine the relationship between ride-sharing intention and actual usage behaviors. The results indicated that ride-sharing intention was significantly positively affected by subjective norms (β = 0.428 ***), service satisfaction (β = 0.315 ***), and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.162 *), but significantly negatively affected by concerns about COVID-19 (β = −0.183 **). Concerns about COVID-19 significantly negatively affected travelers’ actual ride-sharing behaviors (β = −0.2 **). Furthermore, ride-sharing intention was identified as a significant positive predictor of travelers’ behaviors: specifically, their likelihood of accepting a ride-sharing order (β = 0.395 ***). These findings offer transport authorities evidence-based strategies for designing targeted interventions during health crises, particularly through reinforcing social norms, improving service quality, and implementing transparent health protocols to ensure both user safety and sustainability.

Keywords: post-epidemic era; ride-sharing; sustainable mobility; concerns about COVID-19; satisfaction; extended theory of planned behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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