Casual Carpooling Focus Group Study

Qualitative research in the form of focus groups was conducted from June 2012 through September 2012 to explore the phenomenon of casual carpooling (also called slugging, informal carpooling, and dynamic ridesharing). Eight focus groups were held in three regions with the largest and longest running casual carpooling systems in the Nation: Washington, DC; Houston, TX; and San Francisco, CA. At each location, the focus groups were held with drivers and passengers who are active participants in casual carpooling. The focus groups took place over 1 to 2 days on separate evenings with generally one or two groups being held each evening (one focus group in Washington, DC, was held midday). A total of 83 individuals participated in the focus groups. With the goal of enriching understanding of casual carpooling systems from the participants’ perspective, this effort provided insights, results, and conclusions to the following research questions: 1. What are the underlying social-cultural dynamics that comprise the casual carpooling system? 2. What are the factors that attract participants to casual carpooling and influencers that motivate them to stick with the system? 3. What are the opportunities for system improvements that may improve the casual carpooling experience?\n