Comparing car ownership reduction patterns among members of different car sharing schemes operating in three German inner-city areas

This paper explores the relationship between car sharing services membership and private car ownership levels. Compared to previous studies, we focus on differences among members registered in roundtrip station-based, free-floating, and combined services, by analysing the results of a survey addressed to members living in three German inner-city areas. Two logistic regression models were estimated to understand car ownership reduction patterns between different time points. In addition to car sharing membership and related patterns of use, sociodemographic characteristics of respondents, opinions about other transport means, attitudes towards private car, and environmental concerns were considered in the models’ specification. Both regression models showed that car sharing membership is one of the strongest predictors of car shedding. Albeit all car sharing users reported significantly lower levels of car ownership than before registering to the service, roundtrip station-based members are about 15 times more likely to reduce car ownership than free-floating unique members. Respondents with membership in both schemes (either in combined or parallel offers) also showed higher propensity than freefloating members.