Key takeaway:
- Equity has emerged as a 6th “E” in transportation planning aimed at achieving fairness in mobility and accessibility for all community members by allocating resources according to their needs.
Results:
- Traditionally underserved populations are defined as persons or communities that are low-income, minority, older adults, have limited English proficiency, or have disabilities.
- The report cites key research demonstrating that underserved populations often have a greater need for safe biking and walking facilities compared with other groups. For example, 24% of Americans living in poverty do not own a vehicle. Residents of underserved communities are less likely to live near or travel along roads with safe, high-quality pedestrian and bicycle facilities, increasing their risk of injury.
- Equity can be both incorporated into the process of pedestrian and bicycle planning and measured as an outcome.
Methods:
- This paper defines key terms related to transportation equity for bicycle and pedestrian planning, cites research related to travel needs of underserved populations, and shares strategies, case studies, and resources for promoting transportation equity for bicycle and pedestrian facilities and programs.
Sandt, L., Combs, T., Cohn, J. (2016). Pursuing Equity in Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning. Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. For the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/resources/equity_paper/index.cfm
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