Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics AHFE 2014, Kraków, Poland 19-23 July 2014 Edited by T. Ahram, W. Karwowski and T. Marek Mobility requirements for the use of carpooling among different user groups Wiktoria Wilkowska 1 , Reyhaneh Farrokhikhiavi 2 , Martina Ziefle 1 and Dirk Vallée 2 1 Communication Science, Human-Computer Interaction Center, RWTH Aachen University, Campus Boulevard 57, 52074 Aachen 2 Institute for Urban and Transport Planning, RWTH Aachen University, Mies-van-der-Rohe-Strasse 1, 52062 Aachen ABSTRACT Facing today’s growing urbanization, increasing environmental pollution, and changing socio-economical factors, efficient mobility concepts are needed that allow counteracting the resulting challenges. The concept of carpooling might represent one such solution for sustaining mobility and reducing traffic problems of congested cities. To exploit the potential of carpooling in general, and to improve the interaction with existing web-based carpooling platforms, user-centered research was applied. Empirical data were acquired by an online survey (N=1261), in which requirements and key motivators for the use of carpooling were explored in different user groups. Overall, a positive attitude toward the use of carpooling emerged, whereby costs saving, protection of environment, and stress- free driving were revealed to be the key drivers of usage behavior. The results showed though that user diversity is crucial: There are differing requirements on ridesharing systems between older and younger, male and female carpooling users as well as depending on peoples’ status of employment. As the concept of carpooling is a valuable solution for cost and fuel effective traveling, it is relevant to enhance its success and to spread the idea in growing urban areas. Thus, considering users’ diverse demands and wishes, and a diligent implementing of carpooling system refinements is promising. Keywords: Adoption Behavior, Carpooling, Mobility Management, Mobility Requirements, Sustainable Mobility, Technology Acceptance, User Diversity INTRODUCTION Carpooling is a very popular element of mobility management (MM) plans or concepts. It is seen as an effective means to reduce both traffic volumes and thereby CO2 emissions. On an individual level it can reduce travelling or commuting costs for those employees who cannot reach their workplaces with public transport or by bike. Hence, several public online carpooling platforms (CPP) have been introduced by public institutions as well as by private entrepreneurs in Germany since year 2000. But the evaluation of user numbers and successfully matched carpools showed that the current performance does not at all meet the expectations, and thus, raised the question of causes and possible solutions focusing on possibilities of enhancing the concept of CPP under existing conditions out of a transport planning perspective. These considerations were the starting point for the research project “Potentials and options of cross linking Internet-based carpooling platforms (for commuters)” commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS). The project scheme was set up in close cooperation with the “working group CPP” in which experts from several German authorities dealing with CPP are