CARPLUS: Integration of carpooling among the union cities

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 95.0162-1

Key words (English)

Mobility; car-pooling; interfaces to public transport; telematics; environment

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: TR1008

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 1.1 Information technologies

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Universität Genf, Universität St. Gallen, ETH Zürich

Abstract (English)

During the last year of this 3-years' project substantial know-how in the segment of commuters could be gained.
In 1996 the emphasis lay on the research of the market segments. 1997 was mainly used to develop a viable system both from a technical point of view and with regard to the marketing approach. In 1998 many practical steps could be undertaken, leading to more than 500'000 successful hits on the internet in more than 20'000 user sessions.
Although the experiment had to be restricted to the towns surrounding Zurich, many insights into the practical functioning of carpooling in other geographical areas - especially into the cross-border areas from where Switzerland received many commuters - were gathered. This will allow us to expand the operation in the future accordingly.
For other potential segments - such as big events - important data was collected and integrated into the further system design. A special study was undertaken for Expo.01.
Among the five test sites - Madrid, Paris, Rome, Stuttgart - the Zurich test site yielded the most important results both in number of participants and in the appliance of telematic tools.
Intermodel aspects could not be treated to the intended extent, mainly due to the reluctance of public transport authorities to cooperate. A special investigation was carried out by the ETH Zurich on the various aspects of intermodality.
Surveys were again conducted by the University of Geneva, including this time also the heads of personnel of big employers. Again, the results were very encouraging - in fact almost too positive in comparison to the support obtained so far.
The University of St. Gall helped to assess further technical developments described in eight supplementary modules to be introduced during 1999.
In short, a first solid basis for the introduction of a new para-transit service could be laid in the course of the CARPLUS project. However, further support is needed to make it a self-sustaining commercial operation.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 95.0162-1