A Gendered View of Mobility and Transport: Next Steps and Future Directions

Abstract

Equal access to services, amenities, and economic opportunities requires equal levels of mobility. But mobility varies widely among social groups–and women face especially large physical, economic, cultural, and psychological barriers to their travel. These barriers are heightened by transportation policies which often neglect or entirely disregard how women get around. This research found that women tend to commute shorter distances to work and are more likely to take public transportation in urban areas than men. Policy responses to women’s mobility needs have been uneven, with places such as London consulting women’s groups for transit initiatives while agencies in the U.S. not launching such initiatives.