Directions of carsharing development in Poland : analysis of the need to expand the carsharing zone

One of the basic challenges of contemporary transportation policy is to reduce the share of passenger cars used as the primary means of transportation. This problem is particularly important in urban areas, where congestion generates significant economic costs and carries certain risks for the environment and air quality, and, as a result, has a negative impact on the health of residents. In recent decades, many solutions have been developed to support the reduction of car traffic, many of which are part of the concept of sustainable and shared mobility, such as public transport systems and carsharing and bike-sharing systems. The authors have focused on an in-depth analysis of the carsharing phenomenon in both theoretical and practical terms. The aim of the following considerations is to fill the gap in knowledge about the directions of global trends in the development of carsharing and to relate them to the situation in Poland. In addition, the authors carried out an analysis aimed at characterising the degree of activity of using carsharing services at the border of the zone and indicating whether there may be a connection between the location of cars in the border zone and the possibility of transferring to other means of transport. The authors also point out whether increasing the area of carsharing, in this case, seems justified. The research was conducted based on the literature, an analysis of the activities of companies providing carsharing services, an analysis of open public data in this area, and observations.