Navigating Inequity: Transportation Barriers Impacting Access Across Socio-Economic Lines

Three Detroit residents board the QLine on November 30, 2023. Seeking ways to travel to their destination, these passengers embrace the city’s evolved transportation method.

Authors and editors: Cal Terry and Jonathan Trendel

Public Transportation

In the pursuit of not only education, but also work and the end to disparity between regions and race, one of the greatest hurdles to conquer for people all around the world happens to be transportation. The problem here isn’t the use of transportation itself but more or so the hidden variables in between, all having to do with race, affordability, and regional areas as well as ensuring those have an equitable access to education when they need it.

This method is divided into two separate segways, one involving private transportation, having to deal with the ownership of cars and public transportation, commonly used by individuals from lower-income backgrounds, featuring travel by bus, train and so on. Both of these similar, yet different styles of getting sound both contribute to the inequities stated above, each providing its own example.

According to the National Household Travel Survey, a survey following the travel behavior and activity of a sample of households with its latest update occurring in 2022, about 43 billion Americans travel daily, leading up to over 305 million people using any method of travel from the beginning of the week to the end. This would include any method of traveling to work or to an educational institute, or even traveling in general.

Examining the role that race plays into the inequities of transportation, it becomes clear that specific areas or communities face more disparities than others. When it comes to areas and cities, all of them have different forms of traveling. There were two areas that were explored on this topic.

Compare and Contrast

The cities of Madison Heights and Troy vs the city of Detroit in regards to public transportation. There was one question that was asked and a total of 32 people who responded, half of the total amount on both sides. The question was to figure out what areas in Michigan face the most challenges accessing affordable transportation options.

The people asked in Madison Heights and Troy were people who would normally go in and out of the Oakland and Somerset mall, where multiple buses would pull in for picking up passengers. Half of the responders were also people who shopped there or passed by regularly.

For Detroiters, in the downtown areas, this question was mostly asked towards those at the Q-line bus stops and the People Mover. Again, the number of responders were divided equally, with half being passengers from the Q-line and the other half, the People Mover.

The differences between both areas involve the structures of the methods used for traveling. Madison Heights and Troy are both well known suburban cities outside of Detroit, so their main usage of transportation aligns with bus routes or privately owned vehicles. In the city, Detroit is a strong cross between privately owned vehicles full of people going to work and parking in parking garages or on the side of the street while also having a variety of different systems such as a transit station and multiple street cars that are free to use.

In the Madison Heights and Troy areas, the vast majority of people who responded did not have any issues whatsoever with transportation costs. On the Detroit side, the opposite occurred, the majority having answered that they do have access to more affordable transportation while more also struggled with the affordance of transportation.

Jaculine Thomas steps on board the People Mover in Detroit on November 30, 2023. Not only has she used this device a great deal all her life, she also goes on to inform others of the delay in times.

The reason this may be would be due to the fact that Detroit is a city where transportation costs are higher than the average US costs by a mere 2.3 percent. This ensures citizens in that area think about how they’ll be able to travel to places they need to attend such as work, school, grocery stores, etc. It also helps to note that the majority of residents that live in Madison Heights/Troy happen to be White American. Detroit also happens to be mainly White American residents who live mostly in the Northeast areas, whereas the second leading race being African American, live in the southeast regions of the city.

What stems from this information is the fact that the northeast region is often referred to as the safest part to live in the city. Anywhere else could potentially have you end up a victim of a crime, the chance being as high as 1 in 13 while the northeast part is 1 in 71. This also hurts those who actively use public transportation everyday as this fact could directly diminish any chances that they have from safely returning or going to where they need to go, creating an unfair outcome almost everyday.

While it may not seem like such a bad option to rely on public transportation in Detroit, where a lot of the sections down in the city are mainly free to use, what most people have to worry about is the change of seasons. Say, if it’d snow, people who take the bus or the people mover will have a slightly harder time doing so as they’d have to stand outside and even then, there is always the possibility of those methods being delayed or shut off completely.

Here is audio presented by a citizen of Michigan who actively travels for work as well as some information on the People Mover.

Clip by freelance photographer

Construction workers working on a road in the downtown area of Detroit on December 4th, 2023. Although necessary to provide roads for people to travel smoothly on, this creates an inconvenience for travelers, especially if it delays people from moving.

Private Transportation

Sean Follis, owner of Platinum Detailing, speaks on where he got his automotive passion from and why Auto Shop classes are essential to young people in Rochester Hills on Wednesday, December 6th, 2023. Gaining skills are essential to survival in day-to-day lives but also expand career opportunities for some.

Cars have always been symbolic of personal freedom. They eliminate the need to depend on someone or something else, such as a bus route, subway train, or a ride-share company. There has been a trend over the course of time linked to the individuality of owning your own vehicle and knowing how to work on it. It is that feeling of satisfaction and pride upon completing something that people enjoy. However, that feeling may not be accessible to everyone for several equity reasons.

When considering privately owned vehicles and the inequities that could occur from it, one aspect that comes to mind is how race can play a role in shaping it. Factors such as income disparities make it notably challenging for families to afford a vehicle on top of ongoing expenses such as raised fuel prices, maintenance, and insurance costs.

According to Michael DeLong, a researcher and advocacy associate for CFA and co-author of the report, states the reliance on credit scores exacerbates structural racism in the United States. The report cites an example in New Mexico, revealing that an average driver with an excellent driving record and excellent credit pays $412 in annual car insurance premiums, whereas a driver with an excellent driving record but poor credit could pay $733 annually. The findings suggest a correlation between credit scores, insurance premiums, and racial disparities, highlighting potential inequities in the system.

Systematic barriers are another flaw as to why inequity exists. It's been pervasive

In shaping a multitude of experiences. Notably, it impedes both the mobility and economic opportunities of minority individuals.

Things like having credit to finance a reliable vehicle with higher insurance rates steer minorities away to buy older “fixer upper” cars that may not be as reliable. That is the cause of limited access. An academic report published in December 2019 found that Black and Hispanic borrowers were 1.5 percent less likely to be approved for a loan and that they pay 0.7 percent higher interest rates, regardless of their credit.

As vehicles and their technology have evolved, more people are becoming acclimated to the Electric Car Lifestyle. Discounting affordability it turns out the minorities are just as interested in purchasing an electric vehicle as the white drivers.

The study revealed that while 33 percent of white respondents said they would definitely or seriously consider purchasing or leasing an electric vehicle, that figure rises to 38 percent for Black respondents, 43 percent for Latinos, and 52 percent for Asian Americans.

This survey eliminated the “we do not want them” factor in regards to minorities, but rather they may not be as educated on EV’s or cars in general to make an adequate choice.

Time to get educated

This observation highlights the potential impact of a lack of education about vehicles, which could both limit and hurt career opportunities for people. An article posted by WrenchWay explained why Auto Shop classes should be taught in High Schools. The three takeaways they mention are that it inspires young students to pursue a well-paying career in STEM. Not every student is meant to be a doctor or a lawyer. Some people enjoy learning how to fix things and work with their hands. Another factor is that it can save on maintenance costs and can improve their car purchase habits by knowing just a little bit about the subject matter. A 2016 AAA survey found 73% of customers said they have been overcharged by auto repair shops.

Austin Dzieniszewski pushing a client’s AC Shelby Cobra into his shop, Chasing Performance, for assembly on Monday, November 27th, 2023 in Waterford, Michigan. This beautiful yellow Cobra has been a year long project and entrusted in the hands of Austin to undergo an interior and exterior overhaul.

Understanding and addressing these disparities is essential for promoting equity in access to transportation. Policy initiatives, educational opportunities, and efforts to combat systemic discrimination can contribute to reducing the impact of race on the affordability of vehicles.

Austin Dzieniszewski showcases a custom trunk-bracket for the Cobra’s steering wheel at Chasing Performance on Monday, November 27th, 2023 in Waterford, Michigan. Since Austin equipped the car with a quick release steering wheel and it is classified as a roadster, the driver can store the steering wheel in the trunk so that it does not get stolen.

Conclusion

In the end, this story of transportation reminds us that no matter how vast or minor the inequity is, there still is an urgent need for resolutions that may improve upon how people are able to either access or afford travel regardless of what area you live in, income, or what the color of your skin is. It’s only fair that everyone is given an equal right for how they can use these methods in a safe manner in the hopes of building a better community, one far more educated and united.