Risks and opportunities for the sustainability of ridesourcing services in Latin-American small and medium-sized cities: Analyzing perceptions of stakeholders of mobility

Abstract

Ridesourcing services are rapidly expanding in cities around the world. Their implementation in the absence of prior planning of the operation, or without clear rules for management and inspection, can generate negative impacts on urban mobility, as well as opportunities that are not taken advantage of in the best way. However, there are few studies that have measured the impacts of these services on mobility in cities. The ones that exist have targeted large cities in developed countries. This work aims to measure the risks and opportunities created by the insertion of application-based transport in Latin-American small-sized cities. The use of a hybrid qualitative-quantitative analysis methodology is proposed, with uncertainty modeling supported by fuzzy logic, which was applied in a case study of Cachoeira do Sul, a city located in Southern Brazil. The results revealed a positive perception of the use of ridesourcing services, with opportunities being rated higher than risks, especially related to new options for mobility services. The risks associated with the planning, management, and operation of coordinated urban mobility stood out, in addition to those concerning the competition of ridesourcing services with public transport and taxis. The results obtained here should assist in the formulation of appropriate public policies for ridesourcing services in small Latin-American cities.