E2. IGNITE: Building Inclusive, Healthy, Empowered Communities
E2.02 - IGNITE: Racial Disparities in Perceptions and Use of Bike Share: Implications for Transportation Equity
Thursday, April 23, 2026
1:55 PM - 2:05 PM PST
Location: Parlor, Ballroom Level
Area of Responsibility: Area IV: Evaluation and Research Keywords: Health Behavior@@@Health Disparities@@@Health Equity, Subcompetencies: 4.4.4 Draw conclusions based on findings., 4.4 Interpret data. Research or Practice: Research
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Describe at least two racial disparities in perceptions and usage of bike share identified in Kansas City.
Identify at least two equity-focused strategies for increasing awareness, access, and infrastructure support for bike share in underserved communities.
Explain how historical racial segregation and uneven infrastructure investment influence perceptions, access, and use of bike share systems in urban contexts.
Brief Abstract Summary: Discover how historical segregation in Kansas City continues to influence racial disparities in bike share perceptions and usage. This study highlights differences between White and Black residents in awareness, attitudes, and actual use of bike share systems. Findings suggest the need for targeted outreach, equitable infrastructure investments, and culturally relevant engagement to ensure bike share programs serve all communities effectively. Attendees will learn strategies to address transportation equity as a social determinant of health.
Detailed abstract description: Bike share systems are promoted as affordable and sustainable transportation options, yet access and perceptions of these systems are not equitably distributed across racial groups. Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO), with its history of racial segregation and uneven infrastructure investment, provides a context to examine how systemic inequities shape community experiences of bike share.
This study surveyed 2,507 adults in KCMO, assessing perceptions of bike share’s affordability, accessibility, connection to public transit, and perceived benefits for health and the environment. A 10-item scale was analyzed using one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc tests.
Results show that White participants perceived bike share more positively overall: they were more aware of how to use it (p <.05), more interested in using it (p <.001), and more likely to endorse its health (p <.001) and environmental (p <.001) benefits. They also cited cost as a barrier (p <.001). In contrast, Black participants reported more frequent actual use (p <.01) but lower awareness and perceptions of accessibility in their neighborhoods.
These findings underscore how historical segregation continues to shape transportation equity in KCMO. While Black residents demonstrate higher bike share use, systemic barriers limit their access to information and supportive infrastructure. Addressing these disparities requires targeted investment in underserved neighborhoods, equity-focused communication strategies, and inclusion of community voices in planning.
This presentation will engage attendees in discussion about how to apply transportation equity strategies within health promotion practice to reduce disparities, improve mobility, and advance social justice.
