Determinants of Ride-Hailing Adoption in Developing Urban Contexts: Evidence from Western Districts of Mashhad, Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Transportation Planning, Faculty of Engineering, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran

Abstract

Ride-Hailing (RH) services have emerged as a preferred non-shared mobility option, contributing to a notable increase in their volume and modal share within urban transportation systems in Iranian cities. Despite this trend, limited empirical research exists on RH adoption in Iran and other developing countries. This study investigates the factors influencing RH usage in Iran, focusing on Mashhad, the nation’s second-largest metropolis. Data were collected in 2022 through 619 valid questionnaires encompassing four categories of variables: demographic, travel-related, environmental, and latent psychological factors. Exploratory factor analysis was first used to derive factor scores, followed by the development of an ordered probit discrete choice model. Findings reveal that variables such as marital status, employment, physical disability, household size, and social media use showed no significant effect. However, travel purpose, limited public transit access, proximity to traffic-restricted area, and trip characteristics such as duration and time of day significantly influenced usage. Among latent variables, privacy concerns and dissatisfaction with public transportation positively affected RH preference. Whereas pandemic-related apprehensions and economic constraints diminished it. The study offers insights into urban mobility behavior in developing contexts and highlights the multifaceted factors shaping RH demand.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Civil Engineering and Applied Solutions
Volume 3, Issue 2
April 2027
Pages 69-86

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History

  • Receive Date: 25 May 2026
  • Revise Date: 24 June 2026
  • Accept Date: 01 August 2026
  • First Publish Date: 01 August 2026

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