Uber cuts traffic congestion and carbon emissions: ASU
Traffic congestion and carbon dioxide emissions significantly decrease after Uber enters an urban area, according to a study by Arizona State University (ASU). Possible reasons for Uber's positive effects were noted as; a reduction in car ownership; fewer cars on the road; increased use of alternatives such as buses, bicycles and walking; surge-pricing dissuading peak-hour travel, and not needed to drive around looking for passengers like traditional taxis. The study urged global policymakers to consider the positive sides of the sharing economy when deciding whether to allow Uber and similar platforms into their market.

Kaila White

The Republic | azcentral.com

Beyond saving you when you want to disappear from a party or when your car breaks down, it turns out Uber may be serving the greater good.

A team of three Arizona State University researchers conducted the first study of how the ride-hailing service affects traffic and pollution in urban U.S. areas and found positive results.

According to the study, traffic congestion and carbon-dioxide emissions significantly decrease after Uber enters an urban area.

“Basically, in research, we look for statistical significance and, even with the most conservative estimates, we are able to find significant effects,” assistant professor Yili Hong told ASU Now.

In metro Phoenix, that means 1.8 million hours not spent in traffic jams and more than 900,000 gallons of fuel saved since Uber entered the market in 2012, totaling about $43 million saved, research associate Ziru Li told ASU Now. Associate professor Zhongju Zhang was the third researcher.

How Uber might be helping traffic

The group's paper, which was published Aug. 30, discusses possible reasons Uber has such an effect:

Uber can decrease the number of cars on the road by having more than one person in the car. The study cites a 2014 survey that found ride-hailing vehicles transport an average of 1.8 passengers, compared with 1.1 in taxis.

It can reduce car ownership. Several studies have shown that people who use ride-hailing services have less incentive to buy a car and that many sell their cars.

Ride-hailing services can lead people to drive less in general and use alternatives such as buses , bicycles and walking.

Uber’s surge-pricing strategy, which increases prices during periods of high demand, has the potential to delay or divert peak-hour demands because riders may wait to travel or use public transit instead.

Uber drivers are less likely than taxi drivers to spend time wandering streets to find passengers.

The researchers also cited a 2015 study that found that Uber decreases the rate of alcohol-related motor-vehicle homicides, as well as another that found that Uber's popularity reduced consumer complaints about taxis in New York City and Chicago.

"Many cities have either banned or forced Uber to close down their business due to various concerns," they wrote in the paper's conclusion. "Our results show that policymakers should also look at the positive side(s) of the sharing economy in order to make informed decisions."

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