Equity
Transportation equity requires understanding the unique needs and safety concerns of different populations and providing the appropriate amount of resources to each group. Historically, many low-income communities and underserved populations have been left out of conversations about transportation planning and this has led to unsafe conditions where pedestrians and bicyclists are over-represented in crashes. An equitable transportation system fosters fairness and helps facilitate access to opportunities for all community members.
- A brief from Bridging the Gap found that 90 percent of streets have sidewalks in high income communities, compared to sidewalks on only 50 percent of streets in lower income communities.
- The same brief found that land use laws and development regulations in lower- and middle-income communities are less likely to include requirements that would promote walking and biking.
- Several reports have documented the disproportionate impact of crashes on traditionally underserved populations. People of color are twice as likely to be killed while walking than other groups, according to the 2019 Dangerous by Design report from Smart Growth America.
- Equitable access to safe pedestrian and bike infrastructure makes biking safer and encourages more people to walk or bike. The New Majority: Pedaling Towards Equity reports that 26% of people of color would like to bike but are worried about safety, compared to 19% of white respondents.
- In an assessment of health-related community characteristics, Urban Land Institute found that Latinos, African Americans, and Millennials are more likely to report that crime or traffic in their neighborhood makes it unsafe to walk.
- The high cost of car ownership means that low-income families will have to spend a greater portion of their income on owning and operating a car or choose not to have one. If automobile travel is the only feasible mode of transportation in a community, low-income families are placed at a large disadvantage with very limited mobility. By providing safe and convenient pedestrian and bicycle facilities, the community can ensure that all citizens have access to a viable mode of transportation.
- Better conditions for walking have intangible benefits to the quality of life in cities and towns. In a growing number of communities, the level of walking is considered an indicator of a community's livability–a factor that has a profound impact on attracting businesses and workers as well as tourism. In cities and towns where people can regularly be seen out walking, there is a palpable sense that these are safe and friendly places to live and visit.
- The social interaction possible when the number of people walking increases is a major factor for improving quality of life. Comfortable and accessible pedestrian environments offer alternatives to personal vehicles, which limit opportunities for social contact with others. By providing appropriate pedestrian facilities and amenities, communities enable the interaction between neighbors and other citizens that can strengthen relationships and contribute to a healthy sense of identity and place.
