Tuesday, July 11, 2023 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM (ET)
About the Webinar:
This webinar brings together two phases of research on on-demand transportation services, with a focus on sharing or pooling a ride when using these services, such as transportation network companies (TNCs) and microtransit. The Phase I study conducted an online survey in Texas, collecting data from over 2,500 participants to understand on-demand mobility service use and user characteristics. Attitudes, perceptions, and concerns toward the service concept, as well as the trip-sharing experience were surveyed. The barriers to using and the many potential strategies and improvements to trip-sharing were investigated for transportation services, current and future, that use on-demand technology. Building on the insights gained in the first phase, the ongoing Phase II study delves deeper into mobility gaps and the needs of underserved populations, aiming to foster inclusive and sustainable transportation systems. This webinar brings together the key findings and main takeaways from the initial phase, providing a foundation for understanding on-demand transportation services. The discussion then shifts to the second phase, where semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the specific barriers faced by transportation-disadvantaged communities and their perceptions of these services. By combining insights from both phases, the webinar aims to shed light on the ongoing research and its implications for improving transportation systems for all.
About the Presenters
Ipek Sener, Ph.D., is a research scientist at Texas A&M Transportation Institute with around 20 years of experience in transportation research. She has led various interdisciplinary studies through the lens of social and behavioral sciences—examining individuals’ decisions and activity-travel patterns, the changing nature of transportation choices, and the related impact on and/or connection to well-being, as well as sustainable mobility. She has extensively studied the use of active, alternative, and emerging transportation services, focusing on their availability, accessibility, affordability, equity, and inclusion. Dr. Sener serves on the graduate committee faculty of Texas A&M University and is a faculty affiliate at the Texas A&M Center for Population Health and Aging. She is on the board of directors of the International Professional Association for Transport and Health as well as Feonix—Mobility Rising. She has actively participated as a member in multiple TRB committees, most recently as the current chair of the Committee on Transportation and Public Health.
Austin Sibu is a research assistant at Texas A&M Transportation Institute, working under Dr. Sener for one year. His work has primarily focused on reducing inequity in emerging transportation modes. He recently graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in statistics. While a student at Texas A&M, he worked as a TA for the Statistics department and as an RA at the Bush School. His research interests lie in applying statistical methods to solve real-world problems, particularly in the social sciences. He plans to get a Ph.D. in statistics, with the hope that he could eventually become either a professor or a researcher in industry or government. In his free time, Austin likes to watch sports, watch movies and tv shows (particularly science fiction, fantasy, and comic books), and go to trivia nights.
Audrey Cabay is a research assistant at Texas A&M Transportation Institute, working for Dr. Sener on shared mobility and transportation equity. She graduated from Rice University with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences, which focused on designing and assessing health intervention programs. She also works as a language tutor. Her research interests include transportation and health equity, as well as practical solutions for sustainable transportation transition. She intends to obtain a master’s degree in transportation planning and continue working either as a professional planner or researcher.
