Abstract Manager

This presentation will explore the gender divide in transit use for key travel purposes, including travel for work, for household maintenance activities such as shopping and escorting other passengers, particularly children (where the data allows this). To investigate the widespread applicability of this gender gap, data from travel surveys covering Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia and Toronto will be presented. Key issues of intersectionality will also be examined by looking at transit usage patterns by women of color as well as low-income women.  Most of the survey data predates the COVID-19 pandemic, but  where possible post-COVID survey data will be examined to determine if the gender gap in transit use has shifted.  For instance, it is possible that in some regions, women are choosing to telework more (to improve their work-life balance) which may in turn somewhat reduce female transit ridership on a typical day.  Conversely, women may be over-represented in sectors where teleworking is difficult or impossible.  

For one of the case studies (Seattle) a mode choice model will be described, showing how race and gender matter for mode choice, even after household income, work status and density of residential location are controlled for in the model.

The presentation will close with commentary on how understanding this gender gap in transit use is critical for truly understanding which users use transit systems the most and why it is so important to plan transit services while taking women’s travel needs into account.