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We conduct a discrete choice experiment on 1556 solo-driving commuters in Lyon, France to estimate the values of end-to-end travel time (VoTT) of commuting trips in the presence of a HOV-lane for four modes: Solo Driver, Carpool Driver, Carpool Passenger and Public Transport. Using discrete choice models, we find a strong heterogeneity in VoTT across modes and individuals. The analysis of individual heterogeneity distinguishes four behavior patterns: reluctant to mode change (20% of our sample), preferring the three alternative modes over solo driver (35%), preferring public transport (12%) and preferring driver modes whether solo or carpool (32%). We find that current solo drivers are more likely to switch to carpooling as a driver rather than as a passenger. As suggested by our simulations aimed at marginally changing mode shares, carpool passenger will be the scarce resource if one wants to decrease car traffic by stimulating carpooling for commuting trips. • Compared commuting values of time for solo driver, public transport, and carpool as a passenger and as a driver. • Found large heterogeneity in preferences across solo drivers. • Preferences are linked with attitude statements and we provided a solo-driver's typology. • Finding carpool drivers will be easier than carpool passengers among current solo drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-distance carpooling is an emerging mode in France and Europe, but little is known about monetary values of this mode attributes in transport economics. We conducted a discrete choice experiment to identify and measure the values of attributes of long-distance transport modes for a trip as a driver and as a passenger, with a special focus on carpooling. Around 1.700 French individuals have been surveyed. We use discrete mixed logit models to estimate the probability of mode choice. We find that the value of travel time for a driver who carpools is on average 13% higher than the value of travel time when driving alone in his/her car. The average value of travel time for a carpool trip as passenger is around 26 euros per hour, 60% higher than for a train trip and 20% higher than for a bus trip. Moreover, our study confirms a strong preference for driving solo over taking carpoolers in one's car. We also show that individuals traveling as carpool passenger incur a "discomfort" cost of on average 4.5 euros per extra passenger in the same vehicle. Finally, we identify robust socio-economic effects affecting the probability of carpooling, especially gender effects. When they drive a car, females are less likely to carpool than male, but they prefer to carpool two passengers over only one passenger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crowding on public transport (PT) is a major issue for commuters around the world. Nevertheless, economists have rarely investigated the causes of crowding discomfort. Furthermore, most evidence on the costs of PT crowding is based on trade-offs between crowding, travel time and money. First, this paper assesses discomfort with PT crowding at various density levels across heterogeneous individuals using a different methodology. Based on a survey of 1000 Paris PT users, the negative relationship of in-vehicle density on reported satisfaction is similar to previous studies investigating PT crowding costs and stable across most individual characteristics. We also find a sensitive increase in crowding costs over users’ income. Second, we investigate the causes of this discomfort effect. We identify three key drivers: (a) dissatisfaction with standing and not being seated; (b) less opportunities to make use of the time during the journey; (c) the physical closeness of other travelers per se . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]