Why Racial Equity Matters in Mobility

Our transportation system is transforming rapidly — from shared mobility to self-driving vehicles. However, simply introducing technology into an unhealthy and unequal system won’t fix things. We need equitable practices and policies to tackle the root causes of inequality, not just the symptoms. That means making sure technology doesn’t exacerbate and reinforce inequality. This plenary will unpack the historical context of how race became the determining factor in picking transportation winners and losers. To undo this legacy, we must explicitly center racial equity and prioritize the voices and needs of marginalized people who are usually left out of decision-making on key transportation issues. Equity is complex and intersectional, and to create a more equitable transportation system we must also address interconnected issues such as health and economic opportunities. Equity must be integrated consistently throughout the planning, design, implementation, and evaluation of any mobility program or plan. Instead of just revolutionizing mobility technologies, we need to revolutionize the transportation system in which these technologies operate and fix the root causes of inequality.