Eleanor Byrd, a research assistant for DDS, has been working on a project with data from Capital Bikeshare, Washington, DC’s bicycle-sharing system. Her primary focus has been cleaning the data to improve its usability for analysis. Initially, she concentrated on cleaning a subset of data from 2019 to 2022, writing code to correct missing information and standardize inconsistent data formats, such as converting Station IDs from word to numerical format. The project is now evolving as she translates her cleaning code to integrate with the real-time data scraping system, which will allow for immediate data cleaning as information is collected.
The data collection system Eleanor works with scrapes information every minute from Capital Bikeshare’s comprehensive database. This information includes geographical data (longitude, latitude, street name, region ID) and operational metrics (bikes available, docks available, bikes broken, docks broken). Using this cleaned data, DDS can observe distribution patterns across DC and identify discrepancies in service-level agreement, an analysis that reveals how bike stations are maintained and used across different wards. This data-driven approach directly supports DDS’s mission to make streets safer by highlighting areas where bike infrastructure improvements would have the greatest impact on safety and accessibility.
A visualization from 2021 illustrates the distribution of stations across the DC area using purple bubbles, with the size of each bubble representing the maximum capacity of the station (ranging from 9 to 55 bikes). These visualizations reveal significant equity issues in the bikeshare system. Certain wards have fewer stations or stations with lower capacity, limiting accessibility for residents in those areas and potentially forcing bicyclists to use busier, less safe routes when bikeshare options aren’t available. Figure 1 below shows the disparities that exist and demonstrates the urgent need for a more equitable transportation network that encourages safe biking across all neighborhoods.
Figure 1: Station Locations in 2021
Eleanor’s analysis of service-level agreement provides further insight into the disparities between wards. Using data from August 2022, she found that across all stations, bikes were unavailable approximately 7.04% of the time. Wards 3 and 4 experienced the lowest service-level agreement rates, meaning residents in these areas faced the largest percentage of time when either bikes or docks were unavailable. Additionally, Ward 4 had a higher percentage of stations without nearby backup options within a 5-minute walk. This data directly informs safety initiatives by identifying where additional bikeshare infrastructure is needed. When residents can’t rely on bikeshare availability, they may choose less safe transportation alternatives. Based on this analysis, DDS can create better conditions for bikeshare users by strategically adding stations or increasing capacity.
Eleanor’s time-based usage analysis reveals distinct patterns throughout the day, particularly during morning and evening commute times. This data shows when bikes are most used throughout the day, helping planners understand peak demand periods and high-traffic corridors where safety improvements would benefit the most cyclists. By correlating this usage data with accident reports and traffic incidents, DDS can prioritize protected bike lanes, improved signage, or other safety measures in areas with high bikeshare activity. These targeted improvements make streets safer not just for bikeshare users but for all cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists by reducing potential conflicts.
Figure 2: Station 102 Status on March 16, 2022
The cleaned and visualized bikeshare data provides crucial insights that enable data-driven decisions about infrastructure improvements. By addressing inequities in the bikeshare system revealed through this analysis, DDS can ensure that safe cycling options are available to all residents, regardless of which ward they live in. Increasing bikeshare accessibility encourages more people to choose bicycling over driving, reducing traffic congestion and creating safer streets for everyone. Currently, Eleanor is focused on integrating her cleaning code into the real-time scraping system, which will allow for continuous analysis of clean data and more responsive management of the bikeshare network. This ongoing effort will strengthen DC’s ability to create and maintain a transportation system that prioritizes safety, equity, and accessibility for all residents.
– DDS
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