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Addressing Health Equity inBoston’s Bike Share System

Social Equity and Bikesharing WebinarMay 3, 2012

Daisy De La Rosa, MPAProject Director

Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) Obesity

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In Boston…54% of Adults are overweight (31%) or obese (23%)

More than 40% of BPS students are overweight or obese

Black (32%) and Latino (30%) residents have higher obesity rates than White (17%) residents

Reducing inequities in Boston’s obesity rates is BPHC priority

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• Bike Share • Community Biking• Bike/Pedestrian Crash Data• Access to helmets• Complete Streets

CPPW’s Active TransportationInterventions

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Addressing Health Equity from Planning Phase

Early concerns:• Does it support BPHC’s overarching health equity goals?• Start up in downtown/financial district• Potential barriers: credit card, computer, cost, cultural

Solutions: 3-4 stations at low income neighborhoods 600 Subsidized memberships Address registration barriers Jobs Helmets mandatory; low cost/free helmets Collect demographic information, provide ridership reports

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Addressing Health EquityPotential Access 

BarriersBoston Solutions

Need a credit card to register

can use debit card as well

Need computer to register

can call; membership drives at partner sites

Language barrier Hubway 3 languages; BPHC’s language line;  subsidized flyers in 5 languages; partner support

A deposit required Not applicable for annual or subsidized memberships

Price Annual subsidized membership lowered fro $85 to $5 ‐ includes a free helmet; $50‐65 promotional price for regular memberships sometimes offered

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Addressing Health Equity

Potential Usage Barriers

Boston Solutions

Lack of bike riding skills trainings offered (outreach needed)Knowledge of station locations

stations map placed at targeted stations; info on website; neighborhood bike rides

Lack of familiarity with the system

membership drives, increase education

Fear of additional charges after “free” period

1st hour now free now; promoting bikeshare for leisure as well; education; neighborhood bike rides; strengthening network of bikes in neighborhoods

Biking not popular among all groups

neighborhood promotion (bike rides, “radio” personality); increase education

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7New Balance Hubway Boston Bike ShareLaunched July 2011

yr 1 forecast

As of 12/31/12

As of 3/31/12

stations 61 60 60 bikes 610 600 600members 3,000 3,733 5,033casual users 50,000 61,531 65,618trips 100,000 142,155 152,712

8Map - Boston Hubway Stations

RoxburyRuggles StationDudley SquareRoxbury CrossingWashington/ Lenox BMC

Allston/ BrightonWestern Ave/Soldiers Field125 Western Ave/Batten WayWestern Ave at N. HarvardUnion Sq/Brighton AvePackard’s Corner

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Concentration of Stations

AgainstBurden of Obesity

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Subsidized MembershipsGoal by 6/30/12

As of 12/31/11

As of 3/31/12

As of 4/30/12

subsidized memberships 600 70 96 196

Zip code of Subsidized Members: N=68

Highest Obesity Rates

Lower Obesity Rates61%59%

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Qualification for Subsidized Membership

Boston resident and low income:• Receive public

assistance or• 400% of poverty level

Qualification system flaws/challenges?

No proof necessary College students

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How did you hear about subsidy opportunity?

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

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Bike Share Boston Members by Race/Ethnicity as of 10/10/11

White 46%

Asian 5%

Black 1%

Latino 3%

Other 1%

Two or More Races 2% Unknown 42%

DATA SOURCE: Alta Bicycle ShareDATA ANALYSIS: Boston Public Health Commission Research and Evaluation Office

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Multi-City Bike Share Call Addressing Health Equity

Participating Cities

March 5, 2012 Boston, Nashville, NYC, Chicago, Denver, Minnesota

Common themes

Challenges reaching low income/high risk population Credit card not so much of an issue Issues - familiarity with system, overage fees Key partnerships & targeted outreach critical Recreation vs. transportation; smaller vs. larger systems Evaluation efforts important – improvements needed

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Evaluation: Voluntary Survey of Registrants

Zip code

Gender

Age

Race/ethnicity

Bike/car ownership

Participation in PA in the past month

On avg. week - # of times / length of time participated in PA

Bicycling during the past month (# of times, length of time)

Purpose for bicycling (i.e., work, transit, errands, exercise)

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Evaluation: YRBS Questions

1. During the past 7 days, how many hours did you spend riding a bicycle?

2. How often do you ride a bicycle to school?

3. When you rode a bicycle during the past 12 months, how often did you wear a helmet?

4. What is the main reason you do not wear a helmet when riding a bicycle?

5. Are you aware of places to bicycle in or near your neighborhood, such as special lanes, separate paths or trails, or shared use paths for bicycles and people?

6. Are you aware of a bike share or rental bike facility in or near your neighborhood?

7. What is the main reason you do not ride a bicycle?

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Evaluation: BRFSS Questions

1. In the past week, how much total time did you spend biking?

2. How often do you ride a bicycle to work?

3. Please tell me to what degree you agree with this statement: ―There are facilities to bicycle in or near my neighborhood, such as bike share (or rental bikes), special lanes, separate paths or trails, shared use paths for cycles and pedestrians

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Next Steps

• Aggressive outreach• Partnership development• Membership Drives• Follow up group bike rides• #2 Multi-city Call (after June)• Advocacy for station

expansion• Evaluation efforts

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Contact Information

Daisy De La Rosa, MPABoston Public Health Commission617-534-5672ddelarosa@bphc.org

www.bostonbikes.org

www.thehubway.org