Gender and Climate Justice by COPGendered

Globally, women shoulder three-quarters of unpaid care work, leading to more complex travel patterns for women compared to men. Women often undertake shorter trips but with multiple tasks, such as taking children to school while running errands or assisting family members with mobility limitations. However, existing transport networks primarily cater to commuting needs, neglecting women’s requirements for multiple off-peak trips. Furthermore, personal safety concerns significantly influence women’s mobility choices. Fear of sexual harassment and assault leads women to prioritise safer transport options, even if they are more time-consuming. This exacerbates time constraints and “time poverty” for women with unpaid caring responsibilities.

Gender differences in the use of bicycles and new shared mobility options in Europe are notable. Research indicates that men cycle significantly more than women, with women’s lower bicycle usage largely attributed to concerns about traffic safety. Similarly, men tend to utilise new mobility services such as e-scooters and car sharing more than women. Barriers to women’s adoption of these services include concerns about security (e.g., sharing vehicles with strangers), availability, complexity (e.g., cumbersome registration processes), cost, and limited carrying capacity. Bike-sharing and e-scooters are often unsuitable for transporting children, additional passengers, strollers, luggage, or shopping bags. Moreover, the design of these services often seems to be masculine-oriented, with factors like the weight of bikes or e-scooters posing challenges for women in terms of manoeuvrability.