The way we measure the success of bikeshare systems could be giving us the wrong idea about their impacts, and about the transportation needs of low-income areas.
An op-ed in NextCity argues that the conversation about equity in bikeshare systems must go beyond ridership rates per demographic.
The article makes six recommendations to better measure the impacts of bikeshare systems, and to improve upon them.
1. Prioritize access, and use "access metrics."
"An equitable system provides equal access to bikes throughout the program area and is big enough to provide meaningful coverage," the article explains. Suggested "access metrics" include the number of bikes available, the number and location of stations, and the percentage of the population served who are low-income and/or people of color.
Other tips include building bike lanes and making connections to transit.
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