Amid widespread economic crisis, and raising environmental awareness, Europeans are embracing ride-sharing services in staggering numbers, reports Eric Pfanner.
Utilizing leading providers BlaBlaCar, based in Paris, and Carpooling.com, based in Munich, "[w]orkers making daily treks to and from the office, students heading home for the weekend and even vacationers chasing the sun" are booking ride-shares in numbers that rival other forms of mass transit.
"BlaBlaCar says it arranges 400,000 rides a
month - the equivalent of more than 1,000 French high-speed trains,
loaded to capacity...Carpooling.com says it is even bigger, with more than a million rides
booked monthly via its site and more than four million registered users," notes Pfanner.
The leading providers, and their bullish investors, are optimistic about the prospects for international expansion. Although some, including the founder of BlaBlaCar, are skeptical that such services can succeed in America due to cultural and economic obstacles, Pfanner says that, "[i]n the next few months, Carpooling.com plans to start its service in the
United States, where no ride-sharing site has established a nationwide
presence on a comparable scale."
FULL STORY: Ride-Sharing Services Grow Popular in Europe
Multiple Studies Find Ride-Hailing Contributes to Congestion and Transit Losses
Surveys on ride-hailing conducted by regional planning agencies, academic institutions, and public transit agencies throughout the U.S. reviewed by the Associated Press largely led to the same conclusion: more traffic and reduced use of transit.
15 Companies Adopt 'Shared Mobility Principles for Livable Cities'
Uber, Lyft, and other major transportation technology companies have defined the role they aspire to play in the future of mobility.
An Uber-Lyft Duopoly Could Benefit Customers
As monopolies, especially local ones, loom in some other industries, Uber's predominance has been slipping. Will a duopoly between Uber and Lyft be enough to ensure quality ride-hailing?
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
Pedestrian Deaths Drop, Remain Twice as High as in 2009
Fatalities declined by 4 percent in 2024, but the U.S. is still nowhere close to ‘Vision Zero.’
King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.
Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie