Although the Portland metropolitan area is renowned for being one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world, the Community Cycling Center found that low-income communities and communities of color are struggling to see themselves as part of the two-wheel revolution. Gaining access to a bike and learning to ride it is anything but simple.
With a $78,625 grant from Metro's Regional Travel Options program, the Community Cycling Center studied the cultural and socioeconomic barriers that prevent people from biking. This research will help the organization develop culturally-specific programs to help remove these roadblocks. Alison Hill Graves, executive director of the Community Cycling Center, presented the findings on Wednesday, May 26 at Metro.
"We share the vision of a vibrant city," said Graves. "We believe the bicycle is a great tool to build a healthy community, but to make bicycling an affordable and healthy transportation option we need to make bicycling more accessible. For many people in this community, that is simply not the case."
"It's important to ensure more parents and children in this region can enjoy biking to school and other destinations, not just those families who live in certain neighborhoods that have quality bike facilities," said Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder. "Barriers such as a lack of appropriate information, cost and accessibility are very real issues that need to be addressed before cycling can be a viable option for everyone."
About the study
The Community Cycling Center conducted outreach in partnership with Hacienda Community Development Corporation in Northeast Portland and New Columbia in North Portland. Using a combination of surveys and focus groups involving more than 260 people, the groups discussed interests in bicycling and prioritized concerns that keep people off of bikes. Focus group participants were African American, Latino and African immigrants.
It is important to note that while the study focused on what participants said were their greatest concern, many indicated more than one barrier to bicycling. While this research is a critical first step in understanding the issues that keep people from riding bikes, it does not represent all the possible barriers nor does it reflect an entire cultural group's perspective.
The opportunity
More than 50 percent of survey participants indicated they rode a bike as well as used other modes of transportation including driving, walking and taking public transit. Almost 100 percent of focus group participants were interested in or did ride a bike. Most people indicated that their children rode bicycles.
Cost barriers
Sixty percent of the people interviewed identified the cost of purchasing and repairing a bicycle as a major obstacle. Even those who could obtain a low or no cost bike were concerned about maintenance. Many participants said they were interested in riding a bicycle and would ride if they knew how to fix their bike.
Safety barriers
Safety concerns fell into three categories: traffic safety, personal safety and bicycle security. Most of the safety concerns expressed centered on potential conflicts with moving vehicles. Regarding personal safety, some participants feared that as an immigrant or person of color they were more visible and vulnerable on a bicycle. Many also raised concern about not having secure places to store their bicycles.
More than 50 percent of participants said they were interested in riding a bike, but they worried about not knowing the rules of the road. Many also discussed not having or knowing where the safe routes are, particularly bikeways separate from cars. More than half of respondents discussed an interest in riding with a group and with their children.
Infrastructure barriers
A lack of streets with adequate room for bicycling or even adequate surface discourages bike riding. In the Cully neighborhood where the Hacienda development is located, dirt and gravel roads as well as paved streets without curb improvements pose a deterrent. A Portland State University bicycle network gap analysis, conducted in June 2009 for the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030, found the city's bicycle network is the weakest in areas with high populations of people of color.
Next steps
The Community Cycling Center is working with partners to develop programs that help remove these barriers. A pilot program for bike repair education will begin this fall at Hacienda. The Community Cycling Center is also encouraging other organizations that serve diverse communities to start or increase efforts to foster cultural awareness and remove barriers.
Metro Regional Travel Options is also working to remove these barriers by providing grants and collaborating with organizations, such as the Community Cycling Center and the Bicycling Transportation Alliance, to promote cycling safety. Metro provides thousands of free Bike There! maps to education programs and low-income communities. The map provides safety information and indicates most suitable roads to help people get around.