Analysis of Car Sharing Membership Behavior in Japan Considering Access to Car Sharing Stations

Abstract

Car sharing is gaining attention in Japan as a remedy for environmental impacts, congestion, and inefficient land use stemming from private car ownership. This study evaluates drivers of car-sharing membership by integrating individual data from the 2021 National Urban Travel Characteristics Survey with 2023 station locations. A logistic regression model incorporating sociodemographic traits and spatial accessibility is estimated, and a latent-class approach corrects for imprecise home geocoding. Membership is more likely among younger, male, high-income individuals and service-industry workers. Spatially, higher population density and a greater number of car-sharing stations within 1.5 km of home significantly raise the odds of joining. These findings underscore the combined influence of personal and locational factors on car-sharing adoption in Japan.