UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies

Transportation equity is a priority for agencies across the state. This research brief summarizes the study, "Assessing the Impact of Equity Work in Active and Sustainable Transportation," that highlighted the importance of distinguishing between performative and authentic equity work. Performative equity refers to actions, words, or gestures that claim to do equity work, but in practice do not improve matters for those historically oppressed, and in turn, reinforces root systems of dominance and status quo. Authentic equity work results in meaningful change to those most impacted by historical racism and oppression.