Babagoli Masih A, Kaufman Tanya K, Noyes Philip, Sheffield Perry E
Columbia College, Columbia University in the City of New York, 1130 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA.
Center for Health Equity, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 485 Throop Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11221, USA.
J Transp Health. 2019 Jun;13:200-209. doi: 10.1016/j.jth.2019.04.003. Epub 2019 May 3.
This paper examines spatial equity and estimates the health impact of Citi Bike, New York City's (NYC) bike share system. We discuss how further system expansion and utilization by residents in high-poverty communities of color could affect the potential benefit of the largest bicycle share system in the United States.
First, we compared the Citi Bike station distribution by census tract poverty during the system's 2013 launch and after the 2015 geographic expansion. Second, we applied the World Health Organization's Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) to estimate the benefit of cycling associated with annual Citi Bike members for two 12-month time periods and analyzed change of the benefit over time.
The results showed that the greatest proportion of Citi Bike stations were located in low-poverty (wealthier) NYC census tracts (41% per period), and there were no significant changes in station distribution during expansion. HEAT estimated an increase from two to three premature deaths prevented and an increased annual economic benefit from $18,800,000 to $28,300,000 associated with Citi Bike use.
In conclusion, although Citi Bike stations are not equitably located, the estimated annual health benefits are substantial and have increased over time. Our findings underscore the potential for even greater benefits with increased spatial access in higher-poverty neighborhoods and communities of color. Our findings highlight the importance of the built environment in shaping health and the need for a health equity lens to consider the social and political processes that perpetuate inequities.
本文探讨空间公平性，并评估纽约市（NYC）的共享单车系统“花旗单车”对健康的影响。我们讨论了该系统的进一步扩张以及高贫困有色人种社区居民对其的使用情况可能会如何影响美国最大的共享单车系统的潜在效益。
首先，我们比较了2013年该系统推出时以及2015年地理扩张后按普查区贫困程度划分的花旗单车站点分布情况。其次，我们应用世界卫生组织的健康经济评估工具（HEAT）来估计两个为期12个月的时间段内与花旗单车年度会员骑行相关的健康效益，并分析效益随时间的变化。
结果显示，花旗单车站点的最大比例位于纽约市低贫困（较富裕）的普查区（每个时间段为41%），且扩张期间站点分布没有显著变化。HEAT估计，与使用花旗单车相关的过早死亡预防数量从两人增加到三人，年度经济效益从1880万美元增加到2830万美元。
总之，尽管花旗单车站点的布局并不公平，但估计的年度健康效益相当可观，且随时间有所增加。我们的研究结果强调了在更高贫困社区和有色人种社区增加空间可达性可能带来更大效益的潜力。我们的研究结果突出了建筑环境对健康的塑造作用，以及需要从健康公平的角度考虑导致不平等长期存在的社会和政治进程。
