Bike Parking Equity was an intense project where I identified areas of Chicago that received disproportionately fewer bike racks than other areas (the Underserved Wards), and developed a sub-project that attempted to alleviate the equity issue (Underserved Wards Project of Summer 2009). I also invented two Screening Methods for installing bike racks: the first was used to identify the Underserved Wards and the second to put bike racks near the bikeway network and the best land uses. Lastly, I created a framework to build a Bike Parking Demand Model, a way to predict and prioritize bike parking installations based on inputted data.

The CDOT Bicycle Parking Program's request-based operations may not be setup well to handle bicycle parking installations that have not been requested. Furthermore, Chicago residents and workers may not know the benefits of bicycle parking, or how to request it. This project would not be possible without the comprehensive and well-managed installation data that the Program maintains. Lastly, approaching a bike rack installation program from a standpoint of efficiency (by prioritizing around demand or need) may preclude achieving equity.

The project was divided into the following sections:

• Introduction, Background and History
• Equity
• Screening Methods, Predictions, and Modeling
• And this section, Conclusion and Evaluation.

Figure 1

Bike parking at transit stations in Chicago tends to be well-used. This photo was taken at the Ravenswood Metra station in March 2009.

A list of pages with their own conclusions sections that are not included here but still provide salient information and advice.

• Median Locking
• Underserved Wards - See sections If not for... and Results
• Goal 1 - Outreach
• Goal 2 - Generate Requests
• Conclusion of Section Three - Screening Methods, Predictions, and Modeling

Should the CDOT Bicycle Parking Program attempt another project similar in scope to the “Underserved Wards Project of 2009,” I have several recommendations:

• Fulfill the failed goals, Goal 1 and Goal 2.
• Congruent to Goals 1 and 2, work towards a program operation model that solicits requests, and receives them, in order to move away from the request-based operation that contributes to inequitable distribution. Soliciting requests may include working with partners that have stronger relationships with the people who need bicycle parking, or need to be educated about it.
• Interview other bicycle parking specialists around the world to expand Screening Method 1 to possibly define a better method than “median threshold” or to develop a rationale that supports the further use of it.