Transport planning is often assumed to be gender neutral. In practice, it is anything but. This talk explores how gender shapes everyday mobility experiences, drawing on examples from pedestrian, cycling, transit, and driving research. We will then delve into a root of this problem: the gendered biases embedded in transport data collection. Focusing on mobility of care, i.e., all the travel required to complete household labour (e.g., grocery shopping, caring for children), we will examine how data collection biases influence policy outcomes. The session concludes with actionable steps to gender-mainstream transport planning, and ultimately to foster more inclusive, equitable, and safer cities for everyone.
Dr. Léa Ravensbergen is an Assistant Professor in the School of Earth, Environment & Society (SEES) at McMaster University. Her research explores how cities can foster more sustainable transport systems in an equitable manner.