E-bikes’ impact on job accessibility and equity in São Paulo and Rio

Despite their ability to address challenges associated with conventional cycling, the potential of e-bikes to improve accessibility to opportunities and equity remains largely unexplored. This study addresses this gap by evaluating e-bikes’ impacts on job accessibility and spatial equity in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s two largest cities. We calculated cumulative accessibility using different thresholds of travel time and physical effort, which were modeled using GPS data from a bike-sharing system. Results reveal that e-bikes significantly enhance job accessibility compared to conventional bicycles, particularly for longer cycling trips and trips in hilly areas. However, accessibility gaps persist in peripheral neighborhoods. Equity analyses using Moran’s Index and the Concentration Index demonstrate that e-bikes reduce spatial disparities, benefiting lower-income groups, though absolute inequalities persist. Urban topography and structure critically shape outcomes, meaning that the impact of e-bikes varies both between and within cities.