Will good public transport substitute free-floating car sharing? A case study from Copenhagen

Free-floating car sharing (FFCS) is an emerging mode of transport that enhances the mobility of individuals that do otherwise not have access to cars. This article investigates how the usage of FFCS is affected by the implementation of new high-class public transport. The analysis presents changes in spatiotemporal substitution patterns for FFCS and public transport usage after the opening of a high-class metro line in Copenhagen. A direct demand model is developed with the aim of modelling the FFCS demand and to associate this with land-use variables and public transport accessibility variables at level of zones. The results reveal that while generally increasing over time, the car sharing usage decreased in areas well-served by the new metro line after opening. Thus, it is suggested that FFCS usage and public transport are mainly substitutes and compete for the same costumer base. However, locally, there are signs that the two modes are complementary as well.