Ioanna works as a writer for SHIFT. She enjoys the change from old to new, and is all about shifting perspectives. Ioanna works as a writer for SHIFT. She enjoys the transition between old and modern and is all about shifting perspectives.European cities are making mobility more sustainable, but they have yet to address the gender issue.Yes, gender can play a major role in mobility. Although it has been proven that men and women have different travel patterns and needs, this fact has not been taken into account in city mobility plans.Bloomberg reports that cities in Europe are now more aware of the gendered effects transport policies have on their citizens and they use these to guide the adoption of less car-centric systems.Research shows that women are more likely than men to travel multiple times per day to work. This may partly be explained by the fact that women are often required to travel more, as they have to do multiple activities in addition to work.Credit: Bloomberg Women's many daily activities (childcare chores, housework, jobs) often require multiple trips daily.However, the fact that women tend to travel more during the day does not mean that less car-centric policies are better for gender equality. As you can see, women are more likely to walk or use public transport.Credit: Bloomberg Women commute by public transport or walking most of the time.This highlights two main needs for female commuters: reducing urban congestion that can threaten the safety of pedestrians and ensuring access to mass transit alternatives.What do cities do exactly?Paris announced last year that it would become a 15 minute city. This will help address the issues and improve gender equality.Similar to Barcelona's superblocks program, Austria has implemented the 1-2-3 Climate Ticket, which grants access to public transport throughout the country for $3.6 per day. This is an annual fee.There are also stirrings within Germany. For example, center-left parties from Munich have advocated for city-planning that is gender-equal.These initiatives are only small steps toward gender-equal mobility. However, reducing urban traffic and improving safety and accessibility are both positive steps in the right direction that will be beneficial to everyone.Are EVs able to excite your electrons. Are ebikes able to get your wheels turning? Are self-driving cars able to get you going?You need the weekly newsletter from SHIFT. Sign up by clicking here
