Advanced OR and AI Methods in Transportation CAR POOLING CLUBS: SOLUTION FOR THE AFFILIATION PROBLEM IN TRADITIONAL/DYNAMIC RIDESHARING SYSTEMS

Traffic congestion and the associated pressure in car parking, that results from growing car ownership, require the study of innovative measures to reduce the number of cars traveling every day to the city centers, specifically single occupant vehicles. Car pooling is a system by which a person shares his private vehicle with one or more people that have common, or aligned destinations. Until now this systems have been applied mainly in the United States and some Northern European Countries but with modest results. Trust between occupants has proven to be essential for car pooling viability. This paper presents the concept of car pooling clubs as a means to affiliate its members, increasing trust between them and at the same time allowing a more flexible matching between the participants.