New Research Connects Land Use to Ride-Hailing Trips

Many of the places in Chicago generating the most ride-hailing trips with services like Uber and Lyft are accessible by transit, according to new research.

2 minute read

September 16, 2020, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Chicago

New research suggests people choose Uber and Lyft even where high quality transit options are available. | Greg K__ca / Shutterstock

Oriol Marquet, a researcher from the University of Barcelona, has published new research on the effect of land use at trip origin and destination on demand for ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft.

The paper, titled "Spatial distribution of ride-hailing trip demand and its association with walkability and neighborhood characteristics" and published recently by the journal Cities, examined records of 32 million ride-hailing trips in the city of Chicago to identify how land use determines the use of ride-hailing services. 

According to a Tweet posted by Marquet, the paper identifies "worrisome trends," namely, that "61% of ride-hailing trips are between highly walkable areas," and areas that offer more sustainable forms of travel. As put in the paper's abstract, "Ride-hailing is predominantly being used to travel between highly accessible areas which should be accessed using more sustainable transport modes."

The paper adds a land use angle to previous research that found evidence that many ride-hailing trips are being made at the expense of transit trips, as first revealed by a study performed by Regina Clewlow in October 2017, and contributing to a decline in transit use in urban areas

According to another Tweet by Marquet, "Ride hailing does not seem to be a viable alternative for low-income households or for those with no car access. This suggests that even at the currently heavily-subsidized low prices, Uber and Lyft cannot substitute for public transit in low-income areas." The trip data was generated between November 1, 2018 to June 28, 2019, so the research comes with the caveat that the data and findings reflect mode choices and trip generation in the time before coronavirus.

Tuesday, September 15, 2020 in Science Direct

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight