Carsharing: Another gender issue? Drivers of carsharing usage among women and relationship to perceived value

• Published in: Travel, behaviour & society behaviour & society, 2019-10, Vol.17, p.36-45
• Main Author: Alonso-Almeida, María del Mar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carsharing; Gender gap; Gender mobility; New materialism; Service; Sharing economy; Sustainable mobility
• ISSN: 2214-367X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tbs.2019.06.003

•Car-sharing is a directed at finding more sustainable ways of moving.•Car-sharing could be another gender gap in mobility.•Women use car-sharing when they perceive business and personal value in doing so.•There were significant differences in perceptions of car-sharing services. The sharing economy is competing with traditional companies in many different industries and markets nowadays. One of first and most strongly affected industries is transportation. Efforts have been directed at finding more sustainable ways of moving from place to place and reducing deficiencies in public infrastructure. Carsharing has been promoted as a relatively sustainable means of travel. However, new means of travel may increase gender gaps or create new ones. A survey of 228 women was carried out to investigate use of both car clubs and peer-to-peer carsharing, analysing the carsharing business model and personal motivations. We found that women use carsharing when they perceive business and personal value in doing so. Nevertheless, there were significant differences in perceptions of car club and peer-to-peer carsharing. Implications for management, policy and research are presented to promote efforts to eliminate gender gaps in transportation.