Ride-hailing apps and equity: an accessibility study in Porto Alegre/RS

Abstract

The arrival of ride-hailing apps in Brazil has raised concerns about their negative impacts on urban mobility. However, it was expected that they could serve as a complement to public transport and as a substitute for private cars, theoretically improving urban accessibility and potentially reducing inequalities in urban mobility. This study assessed this hypothesis in the city of Porto Alegre/State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and described the access of different socioeconomic groups to the city's main destinations using an accessibility indicator composed of time and monetary cost. Results indicate that ride-hailing apps significantly exacerbate inequality between income groups, particularly for frequent trips. However, they can be a viable option for occasional trips even for low- -income communities.