A methodology for the assessment of ridesharing program benefits and impacts
Abstract Due to the increased cost and decreased availability of energy, many cities are developing experimental ridesharing programs. The evaluation of such public transportation programs often involves some form of benefit/cost analysis. In this paper we review a methodology proposed by Wagner for calculating ridesharing program benefits. We propose a modification for calculating vehicle-miles reduction and suggest a survey instrument for collecting the appropriate data. In addition, we present a surrogate measure which is simpler to compute and allows sensitivity analysis for incorporating certain intangible factors. Data from a survey conducted in the Greater Cincinnati area is used to illustrate the calculations. The results can be useful in evaluating other ridesharing programs.
Planning and analysis of a ridesharing evaluation study
Abstract We present a case discussion of the development of surveys for evaluating a metropolitan ridesharing project. We trace the conceptual development of an “ideal” survey design, the problems encountered in actual implementation, and finally the design of a low-cost narrow-range survey which focuses on specific information used to assess program benefits. We feel that this discussion can assist other ridesharing agencies, particularly those in the initial stages of formation, in determining costs and outcomes of specific survey techniques.
Negotiating the cultural and economic outcomes of sport heritage attractions: the case of the National Baseball Hall of Fame
ABSTRACT Contemporary museums must balance their roles as commercial entities and repositories of various, and often dissonant, heritages and histories. Sports museums in particular often have clear commercial and nostalgic aims, particularly through tourist visitation, though the extent to which they represent more challenging narratives remains unclear. This paper examines how one of the most famous sports museums in the world, the National Baseball Hall of Fame (NBHF) in Cooperstown, New York, balances its dual role as tourist attraction and repository of baseball's sometimes checkered past. It was found that different sections of the museum provide greater or lesser degrees of engagement with more controversial issues, although the commercial outputs and appeal of the museum remains clear throughout. Utlimately, the NBHF demonstrates that balancing veneration and critique in collections can be commercially prosperous, and can provide a template for other sport and popular culture museums who may be wary of incorporating more challenging narratives in their exhibits. Furthermore, the symbiotic relationship between the Hall of Fame and the village of Cooperstown, particularly in creating and maintaining cultural and economic outputs, requires further exploration.