Equity implications of electric bikesharing in Philadelphia.

Area of Science:

• Urban planning
• Transportation science
• Public health

Background:

• Bikesharing systems offer affordable urban transport but often serve affluent users.
• Equity is a key goal for many bikeshare programs, including Philadelphia's Indego.
• Previous equity initiatives were insufficient, prompting the integration of e-bikes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the impact of e-bike integration on Indego bikeshare usage.
• To investigate how e-bikes influence usage patterns in disadvantaged areas.
• To identify factors associated with shared bicycle and e-bike adoption.

Main Methods:

• Utilized publicly available data combined with spatial analysis.
• Employed random forest and spatial negative binomial regression models.
• Examined usage data for shared bicycles and e-bikes in Philadelphia.

Main Results:

• E-bike integration significantly increased overall Indego bikeshare usage.
• Usage in disadvantaged areas saw a notable rise, indicating improved equity.
• E-bike use in disadvantaged areas supported commuting, leisure, and utilitarian trips, unlike other city areas where commuting was primary.

Conclusions:

• The integration of e-bikes successfully promoted bikesharing adoption in disadvantaged urban areas.
• E-bikes enhance the accessibility and utility of bikesharing for diverse populations.
• This strategy effectively addresses equity goals within urban transportation systems.