Mode choice and ride-pooling simulation: A comparison of mobiTopp, Fleetpy, and MATSim

On-demand ride-pooling systems have gained a lot of attraction in the past years as they promise to reduce traffic and vehicle fleets compared to private vehicles. Transport simulations show that automation of vehicles and resulting fare reductions enable large-scale ride-pooling systems to have a high potential to drastically change urban transportation. For a realistic simulation of the new transport mode it is essential to model the interplay of ride-pooling demand and supply. Hence, these simulations should incorporate (1) a mode choice model to measure demand levels and (2) a dynamic model of the on-demand ride-pooling system to measure the service level and fleet performance. We compare two different simulation frameworks that both incorporate both aspects and compare their results with an identical input. It is shown that both systems are capable of generating realistic results and assessing mode choice and ride-pooling schemes. Commonalities and differences are identified and discussed.