Suggested Citation:
Jaller, Miguel, Xiaodong Qian, Ivan R. Xiao (2024)

Brief: Bikesharing and Other Micromobility Services Can Improve Connectivity Between Affordable Housing Communities and Transit

Finding ways to boost transportation accessfor underserved populations can unlock broad social benefits. Micromobility programs, including bikesharing, offer scalable solutions.National, state, and regional housing and urban development agencies promote affordable housing and transit-accessible developments by funding programs such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and Community Development Block Grants. However, these efforts are not always coordinated and the physical distance between affordable housing and transit access continues to grow. The problem is compounded by low car ownership rates in lower income urban communities. These circumstances have led to inequitable mobility access. To correct course, pairing affordable housing developments with reliable transit services is essential. This practice can increase equity and accessibility.A team at the University of California, Davis,conducted a case study in Sacramento, California, to explore bikesharing as an optionfor connecting affordable housing residents with transit services. This brief summarizes the findings from that research and provides implications for the field. 

This policy brief is draw from “Optimizing Bikeshare Service to Connect Affordable Housing Units with Transit Service,” a report from the National Center for Sustainable Transportation, authored by Miguel Jaller, Xiaodong Qian, and Runhua (Ivan) Xiao at the University of California, Davis. The full report can be found on the NCST website at https://ncst.ucdavis.edu/project/optimizing-bikeshare-service-connect-affordable-housing-units-transit-services.