Abstract:

The article discusses how a new type of shared-use mobility, carsharing, can affect the development of transportation in urban agglomerations. In particular, the study focuses on current problems such as inadequate public transportation or lack of parking space and the potential of carsharing practices to solve or at least mitigate the negative consequences of these urban transport deficits in Yekaterinburg. Theoretical approaches to carsharing are discussed and current trends in the transformation of urban mobility in Russia are analyzed. Different types of carsharing and their respective characteristics are described. The main incentive for carsharing stems from the fact that it offers the benefits of car use without incurring the costs and burden of car ownership. The benefits of carsharing are compared with those of car ownership, taxi services and public transport. The main parameters used for comparison are the cost of a trip, the time it takes to travel a certain distance by using different modes of transport (specifically in Ekaterinburg) and the level of comfort they offer. The conclusion is made that in terms of cost and time, carsharing proves to be the optimal solution for making short rides with the boundaries of an urban agglomeration. The study shows the need for fiscal stimulation of carsharing in cities and analyzes various kinds of such stimulation, the most effective of which is the reduction of the price of parking in downtown areas.