Does bike-share enhance transport equity? Evidence from the Sacramento, California region

As bike-share systems proliferate across the US, their potential as a way of expanding opportunities for those most underserved by the transportation system merits a deeper understanding of its current users. In this study, we examine the rate of bike-share adoption by individuals from different socio-demographic groups and living in different bicycling contexts. We explore how individuals incorporate bike-share service into their travel patterns for different travel purposes and change their use of other modes. Data are from a two-wave survey of bike-share users and a parallel household survey of residents in the Sacramento region. Our modeling results for bike-share adoption and use frequency show that low-income individuals are less likely to adopt bike-share but use the service more frequently than other income groups when they do adopt. Low-income users, people of color, and non-auto owners are more likely than other groups to use bike-share frequently for many trip purposes. Individuals living in areas with a stronger biking culture and surrounded by bike infrastructure are less likely to adopt the service and less likely to use it for purposes other than commuting. All users change their use of other modes when they incorporate bike-share into their travel patterns, but low-income individuals, people of color, and non-auto owners would be more severely impacted if the service were to stop. Our results add new insights into the use of bike-share, a service that can enhance social equity while also addressing sustainability.