Travel Behavior

Electric Vehicle Charge Management for Lowering Costs and Environmental Impact

Elpiniki Apostolaki-Iosifidou
Marco Pruckner
Soomin Woo
Tim Lipman
2020

As the number of electric vehicles is increasing, there is a pervasive call for research and new strategies in the field of vehicle grid integration. Using electric vehicle real-time data, drivers' spatial behavior and patterns can be derived for their morning and evening commute. These patterns combined with dynamic electricity costs, wholesale and retail, and variable greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, lead to significant outcomes on savings and environmental impact. In this study, electric vehicle charging management is analyzed for the case of north California, using real world data. The...

Emerging Technologies for Higher Fuel Economy Automobile Standards

Tim Lipman
2017

Transportation systems contribute significantly to air pollution and ∼15% globally and ∼25% in the United States to emissions climate-changing gases. In the United States, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for motor vehicles were significantly raised in 2012 for the first time in almost three decades. The standards now call for an average across manufacturers of 54.5 miles per gallon (mpg) for new passenger cars by 2025, or 163 grams per mile (g/mi) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and of 47 mpg (196 g/mi) by 2021. The light truck standards, which include minivans and...

Business Model for Subscription Service for Electric Vehicles Including Battery Swapping, for San Francisco Bay Area, California

Jeffrey Lidicker
Tim Lipman
Brett Williams
2011

A proposed strategy for facilitating the introduction of electric-drive vehicles calls for vehicle purchasers to own the vehicle but to lease the battery from a third party to help reduce the first-cost hurdle to consumers. A further extension of this concept for all-battery electric vehicles (EVs) would include the ability for consumers to exchange their discharged batteries for charged ones at battery swap stations. This factor would extend the driving range for EV service subscribers but with increased costs to build and operate the stations. This analysis centers around a base-case...

Disruptions as Catalysts for Change: Exploring Multi-year Temporal Dynamics of Mobility Styles

Ho, Phoebe
Bouzaghrane, Mahamed Amine
Guirado, Carlos
Joan Walker
2026

Disruptive events, ranging from extreme weather events to global pandemics, inevitably reshape the way people live, travel, and interact with their environments. Understanding both temporary shifts and longer-term behavioral adaptations in response to disruptions is critical for planning resilient transportation systems that can adapt to evolving mobility patterns. This study leverages longitudinal Point of Interest (POI) data from 15,720 unique panelists in the United States between February 2020 and May 2022 to uncover the multi-year temporal dynamics of individual activity-travel...

Navigating the Gig Economy: Transportation Labor Challenges Facing California’s App-based Ridehailing and Courier Drivers

Susan Shaheen
Wolfe, Brooke
Adam Cohen
2026

Given the dynamic landscape surrounding the classification of workers in California, it is important to consider how the existing legal and regulatory environment may impact app-based gig drivers, including transportation network companies (TNCs, also known as ridehailing) and courier network services (CNS). Using a multi-method approach, we conducted a literature review (n = 41 sources), expert interviews (n = 8), and case study analysis (n = 7) between October 2022 to May 2024 to better understand how California’s gig drivers are impacted by state legislation and regulation (i.e.,...

An Assessment of the Viva CalleSJ September 2025 Event in San José [Research Brief]

Kos, Richard M.
Adam Cohen
2025

Viva CalleSJ is an open-streets initiative where several miles of the City of San José’s streets are closed to vehicular traffic, allowing residents to walk, bike, scooter, and skate freely. This report evaluates the Viva CalleSJ event held in San José on September 7, 2025, which attracted more than 150,000 participants. Using a mixed-methods approach, this evaluation examines aspects such as attendance, activities, modal access, and economic impacts, utilizing data from participant surveys (in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese), interviews, and observational analysis. The findings indicate...

Pedal Power: Operational Models, Opportunities, and Obstacles of Bike Lending in North America

Susan Shaheen
Wolfe, Brooke
Adam Cohen
2025

Bike lending offers a service that enables individuals to borrow bicycles for short-term use (i.e., ranging from 2 hours to 36 months), typically from designated locations within cities, campuses, or communities. Unlike bikesharing systems that typically rely on automated kiosks and/or undocked and free-floating devices for public access, bike lending involves a managed program with staff, similar to a library model. These programs can be administered by community organizations, bike shops, public libraries, and other local entities. They are typically community- or membership-based, with...

An Assessment of the Viva CalleSJ September 2025 Event in San José

Kos, Richard
Adam Cohen
2025

Viva CalleSJ is an open-streets initiative where several miles of the City of San José’s streets are closed to vehicular traffic, allowing residents to walk, bike, scooter, and skate freely. This report evaluates the Viva CalleSJ event held in San José on September 7, 2025, which attracted more than 150,000 participants. Using a mixed-methods approach, this evaluation examines aspects such as attendance, activities, modal access, and economic impacts, utilizing data from participant surveys (in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese), interviews, and observational analysis. The findings...

From Taxis to Ridehailing: Examining Gender Issues for Female Drivers and Passengers

Susan Shaheen
Adam Cohen
Wolfe, Brooke
Champlin, Jacob
2024

This report analyzes gender issues for female drivers and passengers of transportation network companies (TNCs) and taxis. Between August 2023 and May 2024, the researchers conducted driver and rider focus groups (n=8 drivers and n=8 passengers); a driver survey (n=170); a TNC user/non-user survey (n=440, including n=217/440 taxi non-users, n=7/440 TNC non-users, and a subset of n=5/440 non- users of TNCs and taxis); and expert interviews (n=13). This research finds that both female drivers and passengers experience an array of safety concerns and challenges traveling with young children...

An Assessment of the Viva CalleSJ Event in San Jose [Research Brief]

Kos, Richard M.
Adam Cohen
2024

The assessment of Viva CalleSJ 2024 employed a mixed-method approach, collecting data through surveys of participants, interviews with businesses, and observational analysis during the event. An intercept survey was distributed along the six-mile route to capture participants’ demographics, reasons for attending, travel modes, physical activity, spending patterns, and perceptions of the event. The survey, available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, yielded insights into participant demographics and engagement. Semi-structured interviews with business owners and city officials explored...