Abstract
Commercial bikeshare systems have expanded urban mobility but continue to present structural barriers for low-income and minority communities. This study examines how design attributes, sociodemographic characteristics, and perceived community strength shapes residents’ likelihood of adopting a Bike Lending Library (BLL) in lower-income neighborhoods across California. One such community at the heart of this study is Santa Ana, a densely populated and culturally vibrant urban center with majority Latino/Hispanic community located in Orange County. The study found lock provision, bike weight, and cost are strong determinants of BLL rental choice among low-income Californians. The ICLV model reveals that ‘perceived community strength’, operationalized through five indicators of civic engagement and organizational capacity, has a statistically significant positive effect on BLL adoption. Male respondents showed significantly higher rental likelihood while low-income households showed significantly lower likelihood. Thematic analysis identified cross-cutting themes of safety and infrastructure, program design, affordability, community motivation, and program enthusiasm that converged across all data sources. This study provides one of the first applications of the ICLV framework to a community-based bike lending program, revealing that social and psychological dimensions of community life may be meaningful predictors of shared mobility adoption in disadvantaged urban contexts. Findings produce actionable recommendations for BLL program design, siting, pricing, and outreach, and offer a replicable mixed-methods framework for community-centered active transportation planning.
