Collaborating with Assoc. Prof. Renuka Mahadevan from the School of Economics, University of Queensland, we conducted two separate web-based surveys on Uber drivers and passengers in Sep-Oct 2019 across Australia. This study, as the first in Australia, revealed interesting findings about sharing economy ride-hailing platforms in two main aspects of passengers as consumers and drivers as employees. I presented the findings from drivers, as a panel speaker in the Public Symposium on Automation, Ethics and Society at Brisbane Customs House on 21 Nov 2019. I also presented a summary of the findings from passenger study at AITPM online conference (Group 5B) on 27th Aug 2020.

Passengers

This project involves undertaking the task of behavioural modelling of on-demand shared mobility for passengers in Queensland.

In this project, I formulate behavioural econometric models to identify the determinants of using ride-hailing platforms, pooled and self-driving services. Particularly, I apply the integrated latent variable and choice modelling techniques to examine whether differences and similarities exist in the factors (latent constructs of attitudes, socio-demographic characteristics, and trip specifications) affecting the use of these services in metropolitan and regional areas.

Using the hybrid latent variable model on a survey of Uber passengers in Australia, revealed existing of four latent psychological constructs which affect the frequency of using these platforms which we named them as "Ubersism", "Tech-centric", "Anti-driving", "Security-cautious", "Pro-polling" and "Pro-AV". Findings also revealed a regional, metropolitan divide in socio-demographic characteristics of platform users.

Moreover, the results of multivariate models point to different observed and latent characteristics influencing the adoption of pooled and AV ride-hailing services for various trip purposes. In line with the literature, it was found that the socio-demographic characteristics that affect the frequency of use or adopting pooled and AV services in future include gender, age, income, education attainment, employment status, car ownership, and the current travel behaviour. We also found that ride-hailing in Australia has played more as a substitution role for public transport, private car and taxi than as a complementary role or feeder of the public transport system, both in the metropolitan and regional areas.

The results informs the potential demand of sharing economy platforms, pooled and AV ride-hailing services and their likely impacts on other transport modes. For more details please refer to the following paper:

• Irannezhad, E., Mahadevan, R., 2022. ‘Examining factors influencing the adoption of solo, pooling and autonomous ride-hailing services in Australia’. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies. 136 (2022) 103524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2021.103524 . Download Full Paper & Presentation Slides

Drivers

In a collaboration with Researchers from the School of Social Science, Dr Peter Holtum & Prof Greg Marston , Renuka and I also investigated the behaviours of ride-hailing drivers and if there is a difference between full-time and part-time or between migrant and non-migrant drivers.

Despite evidence of sub-standard working conditions and low rates of pay, drivers working on the Uber platform report varying levels of job-satisfaction. In order to better understand driver experience most research conducted to date differentiates driver experience by driver investment (time) on the platform. While this approach offers insight into driver motivations, it obfuscates key socio-political aspects of the globalised labour market; namely the precarity of many migrant workers.

The project team conducted a mixed methods study into migrant and non-migrant drivers on the Uber platform in Queensland, Australia. We conducted an online survey that received 253 usable responses from Uber/Didi drivers in Queensland. The survey was administered through a variety of mediums including a popular Facebook Uber Driver Forum as well as networks with the Rideshare Drivers Association of Australia. A research assistant was also hired to approach Uber drivers in the Brisbane Airport and Rest Areas to encourage participation. This convenience based approach was essential to achieving a usable sample size, and encouraging a more balanced representation of migrant (52%) and non-migrant (48%) responses. The survey included questions about driver’s opinions towards various Uber features, reasons for joining Uber, and their employment status and working hours.

The project team also conducted 34 interviews between October 2018 and March 2019. Of the 34 interviews, 25 were with current drivers on the Uber platform, five with ‘ex-drivers’ who had left the platform of their own volition, and four were with key stakeholders from the Brisbane Personalised Transport Industry who must remain anonymous.

Specifically, our data illustrates key differences between migrants and non-migrants motivations to drive, their dependency on the platform, and their sense of control and agency. The findings suggest that migrant drivers experience greater levels of job insecurity, specifically around factors of job tenure, agency, and personal safety.

For more details please refer to the following paper:

• Holtum, P., Irannezhad, E., Marsden, G. and Mahadevan, R., 2021. ‘Business or Pleasure?: A Comparison of Migrant and Non-Migrant Uber Drivers in Australia’. Work, Employment and Society, https://doi.org/10.1177/09500170211034741 . Download the questionnaire; Full paper and Presentation slides.