The role for carsharing in medium to small-sized towns and in less-densely populated rural areas

The recent strong growth of carsharing (CS) has taken place worldwide mainly in the large cities. We discuss whether there is a potential role for CS in medium to small-sized towns and in less densely populated rural areas. In large cities CS is provided by large profit oriented firms, capable of offering efficient and flexible services, using the most advanced technologies with highly differentiated and customized prices. In lower density areas and small-to-medium size cities the challenges are much greater. The lower demand resulting from a complex of unfavorable factors (higher car ownership level, larger parking availability, low public transport service, fewer or absent taxi service and so on) requires a different business model for the provision of CS: more socially oriented, with a greater involvement of local municipalities and public transport operators to offer a service, most likely at favorable prices. The paper reports the results drawn from a survey on the potential demand for CS conducted in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Italy, a region characterized by small-sized towns and less-densely populated rural areas where CS is not currently offered. It is found that there is a not negligible demand (3.7% of the population holding a driving license) and that the likely users would be the ones that are better informed about CS, environmentally conscious and young. They would be more frequent among students or unemployed people, rather than among professionals, as in the more urban environments. It is also found that CS would mostly be used for non-commuting and longer trips.