Transportation
For Bike-Share Equity, Convenience Is Key
New recommendations for building accessible systems suggest more stations in low-income neighborhoods—and more density in general.
News flash: If you want people to use something more, try making it more convenient.
When it comes to bike-share systems, a new analysis from the National Association of City Transportation Officials highlights, the standard for convenience is steeper than it is for some other forms of transportation. Ideally, the authors of a paper on “walkable station spacing” suggest, bike-share stations should be no more than 1,000 feet apart in the area covered, or about a five-minute walk. Creating that level of density—and convenience—is crucial when it comes to creating an equitable bike-share system, NACTO finds.