Gender, Social Interaction, and Mobility Sharing

TitleGender, Social Interaction, and Mobility Sharing
Publication TypeConference Paper
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsHongmou Zhang, Jinhua Zhao
Conference NameTransportation Research Board 98th Annual Meeting
Conference LocationWashington, D.C.
Abstract

In this paper we answered three questions: 1) Does social interaction in mobility sharing impact the usage and satisfaction level with it? 2) Is there gender deference in considering social interaction as motivation or deterrent for mobility sharing? 3) Is there gender difference in the usage and satisfaction with mobility sharing services. With a survey (n=997) in the U.S. cities where Uber or Lyft is available, we combined data of sociodemographic variables, social interaction indicators, and the usage and satisfaction with mobility sharing services. Using factor analysis and structural equation models we found that 1) positive and negative social interactions both have significant impacts on the usage and satisfaction levels of mobility sharing services, with the former increasing usage and satisfaction, and the latter one reducing them; 2) there is significant gender difference in the agreement on considering social interaction and lack of fellow passenger information as motivation or deterrents for using mobility sharing, but the gender difference is smaller among users than non-users; and 3) based on the previous two findings, there is significant indirect gender effect on the usage and satisfaction with mobility sharing. Nonetheless, this effect is canceled by the direct effect of gender on mobility sharing usage and satisfaction, and the total effect is insignificant.