Gender-responsive technology and infrastructure for sustainable urban mobility (United Nations Climate Change)

Gender and mobility: Women in urban areas experience significant inequalities in their daily journeys

Women and men do not have the same relationship with mobility and are not equal in terms of mobility. This is reflected in differences in their modes of travel, budget, use of transportation, and exposure to harassment and violence during their journeys:

Women generally have shorter home-to-work commutes than their male counterparts.
Additionally, they are compelled to make more trips for reasons other than professional activities. Whether in developed or developing countries, they share similar roles, often unpaid, (household responsibilities, caregiving, domestic chores…) which influence their travel patterns.
Globally, women have more limited access to private motorized transport and opt for more flexible modes of transport (public transport, cycling, walking…).
They usually do not own their vehicles and/or do not consistently possess a driver’s license.
When women are aware of the existence of carpooling platforms, they may not have the technological skills to access these applications. In some countries, women cannot use public transport or travel without being accompanied by a man.

Modes of mobility are more suited to men’s situations than to women’s

Transportation infrastructures are generally designed to accommodate typical commuting routes, characterized by linear and uninterrupted trips, often made by men between their homes and the central business district during peak hours.

In contrast, women tend to travel outside of peak hours and are more dependent on public transport than men, who typically own their vehicles.

They often have to travel with household children, thus seeing their travel costs double or triple. Indeed, in the absence of integrated pricing, purchasing multiple tickets for simple trips makes public transport more expensive for women.

Public transportation infrastructures are also inadequate in terms of accessibility: stairs, for example, hinder mothers with strollers or women accompanying people with reduced mobility.

In approximately 15 countries, there are women-only bus services. Women choose this option to avoid harassment and stigmatization. However, these non-mixed bus services struggle to be financially viable because the number of users is more limited, making the service less attractive.

Security and Mobility: A Differentiated Challenge for Men and Women

Security and gender in urban mobility encompass two dimensions: road safety and harassment or violence encountered, particularly in public transportation.

Globally, men are generally three times more likely to die in road accidents than women because they use private modes of transportation more frequently.
Women constitute the majority of public transport users worldwide and are disproportionately affected by safety issues in public transport systems, both in developed and developing countries. More than half of them report having experienced some form of harassment in this context.
Women from ethnic minorities feel particularly vulnerable in public transportation.
Nearly one in two women avoids traveling at night to reduce the risk of assaults in transport.

Several Obstacles Hinder the Development of Gender-Sensitive Urban Policies:

Existence of Biases: Transportation design often overlooks the specific needs of women.
Lack of Data: Insufficient data on women’s mobility habits.
Inadequate Training: Professionals and policymakers are not well-trained in integrating gender issues into urban policies.
Low Representation: Women are underrepresented in public transportation staff.
Insufficient Financial Resources: Limited financial resources allocated to integrating gender in mobility policies.
Lack of Municipal Platforms: Absence of municipal platforms that allow civil society participation in decision-making processes, thus excluding the voices of women and vulnerable groups.
Regulatory and Fiscal Gaps: Lack of regulatory frameworks, fiscal measures, and societal changes that ensure the integration of gender in financing mechanisms and investments in the mobility sector.

Recommendations for Achieving Sustainable and Equitable Urban Mobility

It is essential to consider the diverse needs and situations of city residents and provide equitable levels of mobility while simultaneously addressing the challenges of climate change and sustainable development:

Plan “compact” and accessible cities for everyone, regardless of gender.
Develop transit-oriented cities for equitable mobility.
Optimize urban mobility infrastructure with a perspective that considers the needs of both women and men.
Encourage walking and cycling with inclusive and accessible facilities for everyone.
Advance smart mobility management by integrating a gender perspective.
Improve public transport and shared mobility with a gender-sensitive approach.
Prioritize equitable parking management over increasing supply.
Electrify all vehicles to reduce negative impacts (pollution, CO2 emissions) on women.
Obtain stakeholder and citizen support for gender equality.
Support cities in implementing mobility strategies that aim to reduce gender inequalities by promoting inclusive and equitable practices.

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