Nippe, Emma

Uber as a Commute Alternative: Analyzing the Impact of App-Based Rideshare Services on Transit Ridership in Chicago, Illinois.

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Throughout my four years at DePaul, I have greatly enjoyed studying the city we are lucky to call home, so the decision to investigate the transportation decisions of Chicago’s residents for my undergraduate thesis was a no-brainer. I was eager to apply my passion for transportation, urban design, and Chicago history to this project, after learning all I could from my courses in economics, political science, German, and mathematics. I am eager to continue for one more year at DePaul as I work to complete my MS in Applied Economics at the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.

Majors: Economics and Political Science

Minors: Mathematics and German

Senior, Liberal Arts and Sciences

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Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of app-based ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft on transit ridership as a commute mechanism into the central business district in Chicago, Illinois. Using data from the City of Chicago Data Portal, this paper analyzes the impact of ridesharing services on transit ridership, focusing on a select few community areas intended to represent a number of demographic groups within the city. I find that the rise of Uber, Lyft and other appbased ridesharing services has had a concentrated, significant impact on commuting patterns in neighborhoods with better access to transportation for residents entering the central business district during the traditional work week, while transit ridership in neighborhoods with less access to public transportation has remained about the same.

Thesis Director: Gabriella Bucci

Department: Economics

Faculty Reader: Ben Epstein

Department: Political Science

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Presentation