Exploring the Factors of Intercity Ridesplitting Based on Observed and GIS Data: A Case Study in China

Ridesplitting, a form of ridesourcing in which riders with similar origins and destinations are matched, is an effective mode of sustainable transportation. In recently years, ridesplitting has spread rapidly worldwide and plays an increasingly important role in intercity travel. However, intercity ridesplitting has rarely been studied. In this paper, we use observe intercity ridesplitting data between Yinchuan and Shizuishan in China and building environment data based on a geographic information system (GIS) to analyse temporal, spatial and other characteristics. Then, we divide the study area into grids and explore the contributing factors that affect the intercity ridesplitting matching success rate. Based on these significant factors, we develop a binary logistic regression (BLR) model and predict the intercity ridesplitting matching success rate. The results indicate that morning peak, evening peak, weekends and weekdays, precipitation and snowfall, population density, some types of points of interest (POI), travel time and the advance appointment time are significant factors. In addition, the prediction accuracy of the model is more than 78%, which shows that the factors studied in this paper have good explanatory power. The results of this study can help in understanding the characteristics of intercity ridesplitting and provide a reference for improving the intercity ridesplitting matching success rate.