Transportation
Drilling Down to the Real Role of Bike Lanes in Social Equity
A detailed new report tries to quantify the impact better bicycle infrastructure can have in lower income communities.
Can better bicycle infrastructure help make cities more just and equitable places? That may be asking too much of some simple bike lanes. But a new “idea book” from PeopleforBikes and the Alliance for Biking & Walking called “Building Equity: Race, Ethnicity, and Protected Bike Lanes” explores the possibilities.
The report looks to community-based bike advocates around the country for their take on the complex intersection of race, class, and bicycle infrastructure. It contains some thought-provoking initiatives, suggesting that conversations about how bikes fit into local streets can be a meaningful part of bigger discussions about fairness, economic opportunity, and health.