Can cycling compensate the distributional inequity of public service facilities? Evidence from Shenzhen, China

Most traditional studies measure accessible equity of public service facilities (PSFs) statically, and tend to neglect travelling scope disparities among people with different travelling abilities and conditions. This study offers a new perspective for dynamically assessing the actual occupancy of PSFs from both the provision and demand sides. Taking Shenzhen as an example, and employing big data on shared-bike orders, we explored the compensation mechanism of cycling for the distributional inequity of PSFs, with a two-phase measurement framework. First, the Gini index and Lorenz curve were adopted to compare the distributional equality of the grids’ originally-allocated PSFs (based on the division of block-scale grids) and their cycling-accessed PSFs (based on delineation of the cycling scope with shared-bike orders). Second, a spatial lag model was established to reveal the exact factors affecting the ability to improve the PSF occupancy through cycling. The results showed that cycling compensated the distributional inequity of PSFs. This compensation effect varied among groups of different ages, genders, and incomes. Moreover, mixed land use and the low density of trunk roads promoted this compensation. These findings can provide decision-makers with references for future PSF planning in Shenzhen, and other similar cities worldwide.