Analysis of Methods for Determining the Optimal Number of Taxi Cars in Megacities

In modern large cities, taxi fleet is a significant component of the urban transport system. The degree of development and impact of taxi services on quality of transport services for residents and users traveling in the city depends on many factors. But one of the basic ones is the optimal ratio of the number of taxi cars and the demand for transportation by them. The objective of the article was an analytical review of scientific research and practical work in the field of methods for solving the problems of organizing and operating taxi services, in particular, determining the existing population demand for taxi transportation and the required number of taxi cars. For analysis, the research used the method of content analysis of the works of authors of several countries, including Russian ones. The conducted analysis of existing approaches to determining the demand of the population for taxi transportation and to calculating the required number of taxi cars showed that at present there is no single universally recognized method for this. The methods used are based on various methods which comprise statistical, sociological (surveys, observations), mathematical methods. The analysis of big data obtained using information systems of megacities is increasingly being used. It is concluded that there is an objective need for research in the field of developing a universal methodology for determining the required (limit) number of taxi cars in metropolitan areas.