Date of Award

2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Brain, David

Keywords

Transportation, Chicago, Poverty, GIS Analysis

Area of Concentration

Environmental Studies

Abstract

Transportation literature tends to fall into either one of two topics: “active” transportation – which is defined as walking, biking, or public transportation use – and its use among higher income groups; and transportation disadvantaged (TD) groups, which are typically those too young, too old, too poor, or too disabled to drive. This thesis aims to bridge the gap in the literature between these two topics by examining both social and spatial components of active transportation use and accessibility among both privileged and TD populations. This study used GIS analysis and personal observation to examine the differences in active transportation accessibility and use in three neighborhoods of Chicago, IL. The three neighborhoods – South Shore, Lincoln Park, and Uptown – differed socioeconomically and racially. Overall, spatial accessibility to active transportation was highest in Lincoln Park but actual use of active transportation was highest in Uptown. South Shore, the minority and low-income neighborhood, had both the poorest spatial accessibility and the lowest rate of active transportation use. This means that South Shore is a quintessential transportation disadvantaged neighborhood. Moving forward, increasing spatial accessibility by extending the rail system and improving walking and biking infrastructure, while addressing social problems like high crime and poverty, should improve both active transportation infrastructure and use.

Download

Share

COinS