Reimagining Ride Sharing: Efficient, Equitable, Sustainable Public Microtransit

This article approaches ride sharing from the perspectives of equity and sustainability. A lack of transportation access exacerbates the challenges faced by transportation-disadvantaged individuals and communities, reducing opportunities for employment and civic engagement. This article presents a vision for public microtransit geared toward addressing today's disparities in transportation access. Through a methodology focused on user requirements and values, a user experience promoting cooperation, and an equity-based optimal resource allocation, it shows how cooperative ride sharing can realize an efficient, equitable, and sustainable public microtransit system.