Intra-jurisdictional delivery of publicly provided services often results in observable differences in service levels that vary by spatial subunit (neighborhood). These variations are related to the socio-demographic characteristics of neighborhoods and have been hypothesized in prior literature to be the result of bias against or favoritism towards certain neighborhoods. Using a mixed-method approach, this dissertation examines publicly provided bus service in four cities - Asheville, NC, Charlotte, NC, Mobile, AL, and Richmond, VA - to examine whether the socio-economic character of a neighborhood is related to the share of municipal bus service it receives and if distribution of shares is impacted by politicized decision-making in the public bureaucracy. Specifically, do transit-dependent neighborhoods, or those with a high percentage of non-Caucasian, low-income, elderly, or student residents receive inferior bus service? Findings confirm prior research that both professional norms and bias are present in service delivery decisions in all four cities. Bias toward upper-income neighborhoods is found in all four cities as well as bias against non-Caucasian neighborhoods in two of the four cities. Additionally, in cities with unreformed government structure, service delivery decisions may be politicized.
