Date of Award

8-17-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Criminal Justice

First Advisor

Trisha Rhodes

Abstract

Ridesharing services that allow the exchange of transportation services between a private vehicle owner and a passenger via smartphone applications (e.g., Uber, Lyft, and others) have revolutionized the way people travel within cities, however, ridesharing may be associated with changes in victimization risks. Few empirical studies have explored the possible connection between ridesharing and crime. This study examined the relationship between ridesharing and crime in Chicago and explored the types of crimes that occurred during ridesharing, the situational characteristics of those crimes, and how many crimes in ridesharing resulted in arrest. Crimes within taxi cabs, similar to ridesharing, were assessed for comparison. Findings revealed higher frequencies of violent crime and sex crime and less property crime in ridesharing vehicles compared to taxis. Additionally, crimes in rideshare situations were less likely to result in an arrest than those in taxis.

Included in

Criminology Commons

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