Study on the provision of mobility services in rural areas

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K04898
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 25010:Social systems engineering-related
• Research Institution: Fukushima University
• Principal Investigator: YOSHIDA ITSUKI 福島大学, 経済経営学類, 准教授 (60457819)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 連携型モビリティサービス / ルーラル地域 / 高齢者 / ギャップ / 公共交通 / COVID-19

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study focused on the gap faced by people living in rural areas (especially the elderly) when they stop driving their own cars. The objective of this study was to show whether the above gap can be filled by providing taxi sharing, flat-rate taxi services, and transport services by private cars.
As a result, the proportion of the elderly who answered that going out itself had become a chore was significantly higher among those who did not have a driver's license, indicating a significant gap depending on whether or not they could drive a private car. In addition, it was found that introducing a flat-rate cab service for short-distance trip would improve accessibility for the elderly while also increasing revenues for taxi operators.

Free Research Field

地域交通政策

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は，相乗りや定額運賃などを導入した乗用タクシーや自家用車による助け合い輸送といった，連携型モビリティサービスを持続的に提供するための要件を示したうえで，高齢者のアクセシビリティ向上にどう寄与するのかを実証的に示したものである。
既往研究では，コミュニティバスやオンデマンド交通といった乗合公共交通の導入要件や効果を分析したテーマが多く，上記のモビリティサービスを対象とした研究は少ない現状にあるが，超高齢社会に対応した移動手段の確保が求められるなか，本研究の成果は，時宜を得た内容であり，社会的意義を有していると考える。