overcoming barriers to bicycling in low-income and minority communities

Overcoming Barriers to Cyclingg y gin Low Income

and Minority Communitiesand Minority Communities

Lynn Weigand PhD DirectorLynn Weigand, PhD, DirectorInitiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation

Portland State UniversityyAlison Graves, Executive Director

Community Cycling Center

IBPIIBPI

The Community Cycling Center

F C itFocus on Community

B k dBackground

• Increased federal funding since ISTEA• Evidence of health benefits growing• Evidence of health benefits growing• Potential for cycling as a travel mode

T i Di t i th USTrip Distance in the US

Shopping WorkU d 1 0% 22%Under 1 mile

50% 22%

Under 2 miles

70% 39%miles

Research on CyclingFocused on Environmental Factors

• Quality of Route• Quality of Route• Traffic Conditions• Signals Lane Design Surface Condition• Signals, Lane Design, Surface Condition• Safety, Lighting• Access to Specific Land Uses• Access to Specific Land Uses• Weather• Other Amenities• Other Amenities

Research on Bike FacilitesIn Portland

• Bike BoxesC l T k• Cycle Tracks

• Bike Boulevards

Research on ProgramsIn Portland

• Safe Routes to SchoolsS tT i• SmartTrips

• Sunday Parkways

What We Know (or Don’t) About CyclistsAbout Cyclists

• More likely to be male younger• More likely to be male, younger• Lack understanding of cycling behavior• Little to no research on cycling among• Little to no research on cycling amongwomen, low-income and minority communitiescommunities

R hi EReaching Everyone

60% Interested, but Concerned

30% 10% No Way, No HowConfident

Who are these people? What are their interests? What are their concerns?

2030 Bike Master Plan

Multnomah CountyPopulation of Multnomah County, 1990 to 2008

85.2%

76.5% 73.7%80%

90%

60%

70%

26 3%30%

40%

50%

14.8%

23.5%26.3%

10%

20%

30%

White

0%

1990 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

People of Color

P j t G lProject Goal

Understand cultural and socio-economic barriers to bicycling within communities of color

P j t A hProject Approach

Establish partnerships with the community and discover ywhere cycling could be a viable solution to health & transportation priorities

Program Design Model

PProgram SStrategy

M th d N d A tMethods: Needs Assessment

• Met with community leaders• Identified two community partners• Surveyed community members• Conducted five focus groups

M t ith C it L dMet with Community Leaders

• Met with 75 individuals and groups• Received feedback• Modified approach

L L dLessons Learned

• Over-surveyed• No steering committee• Compensate for time• Make a commitment

Id tifi d P tIdentified Partners

• Hacienda Community Development• Housing Authority of Portland: New Columbia

Partners

New Columbia:Housing Authority ofHousing Authority of Portland

Hacienda CommunityCommunity Community DevelopmentCorporation

yCycling Center

H i dHacienda• 1800 residents 50% children• 1800 residents, 50% children

Hacienda: Street Context

N C l biNew Columbia• 2500 residents 50% children2500 residents, 50% children• 11 languages, 22 countries

N C l bi St t C t tNew Columbia: Street Context

S d C itSurveyed Community

• 148 surveys at 6 neighborhood events• Themes: Cost, Safety, Riding• 52% ride – recreation and errands

C d t d F GConducted Focus Groups• Five events• Five events• 48 participants• Latino, African and ,

African-American• Child care provided• Culturally-specific

foods• Conducted in English• Conducted in English

and Spanish• Translation in SomaliTranslation in Somali

Cost, Access to a BikeI don’t have a bike• I don t have a bike,

• It costs too much• My bike is broken• My bike is broken

Safety• I don’t like riding on streetsI don t like riding on streets• I don’t know safe routes• I don’t feel safe in my neighborhoodI don t feel safe in my neighborhood• I don’t have a safe place to put my

bike

Riding a BicycleI want my children to ride• I want my children to ride

• I don’t know how to ride• I don’t speak English• I don t speak English• I want to ride with a group

C Th G d NCommon Themes: Good NewsBicycling for Health•Bicycling for Health

•Riding with a Group

C Th B d NCommon Themes: Bad News• Cost• Cost• KnowledgeSafety: Fear of Cars• Safety: Fear of Cars

• Safe Storage• Cultural Perceptions

Solutions: Community-Based Projects

APR MAY JUN JUL AUGAPR MAY JUN JUL AUG

Bike Club Bikes for Kids Create a Commuter

Family Ride Bike Mobile/I Ride

• Develop local working group to engageleadership,

• Leverage partnerships,g p p• Increase ridership• Identify policies to remove barriersIdentify policies to remove barriers

S l ti M k S Vi iblSolutions: Make Success Visible

Lessons Learned: ProcessLessons Learned: Process

It’ ll b t l ti hiP t It’s all about relationshipsBe genuineOffer something

Partners

Offer something

It’s all about relationshipsProgramsBe inclusiveDevelop skills & leadership

Be realistic about capacityIncrease cultural competence

OrganizationIncrease cultural competenceBe flexible

Program RecommendationsProgram Recommendations

Bik O hi P• Bike Ownership Programs• Bicycle Training Workshops

• Riding and RoutesRiding and Routes• Repair Clinics• Legal Workshops

• Residential Management Education/Assistance• Policy and Physical RevisionsO Sit T l Sh i d R i• On-Site Tool Sharing and Repair

Thank You!