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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Down To Earth

Who bikes?

Leave it to the Sightline Institute to provide a transportation reality check. A new analytical report examines the race and income components of U.S. bicycling. Even though bicycling falls under the category of "stuff white people like," as of 2009, over twenty percent of all bike trips in the US were made by people of color and that number continues to grow. 

And check the bike trips broken down by income categories:






















 "Contrary to popular convention, the biggest share of bicyclists isn't yuppies, it's low income people. In fact, the lowest-earning quarter of Americans make nearly one-third of all bike trips. Among that group, I would expect to find at least some fraction of working poor, students, the unemployed, and retired people of modest means, " write Eric de Place. "No doubt there are almost as many reasons to bike as there are cyclists, but it's clear that bikes are a favored choice among those on a budget." So much for the bicyclist as a part of the affluent elite.

You can see it's pretty evenly distributed amongst the remaining three categories but I would wager more low-income folks ride in Spokane than indicated nationally, where one in five Spokane County residents already live below the Federal poverty level.

Ten percent of households in Spokane don’t own a car and a lot in this bracket are employed. I'm pretty dubious they land in the "richest quartile." Or if they live within walking distance to their employers. Gasoline prices are on the rise, slouching towards $4 per gallon. So what happens when gas gets to $5? Biking becomes another option. But traditionally, non-motorized vehicle travel is often more difficult in low income and ethnic communities. And many of these neighborhoods, Spokane included, lack quality access to a connected bike network. 

Look at it this way: The poorest fifth of Americans spend about 42 percent of their total annual income on transportation, which includes the purchase, operation, and maintenance of automobiles as compared to middle-income households who spend about 22 percent of their annual income on transportation.

This study should be a wake-call for transportation equity. To ensure that the needs of all communities, particularly low-income and communities of color, are addressed in transportation policy and the transportation planning process. And by increasing bike lanes, it positively impacts the kinds of opportunities available and improves quality of life.



Down To Earth

The DTE blog is committed to reporting and sharing environmental news and sustainability information from across the Inland Northwest.