On women, transport and a lack of data

[Spindelina]

Haven't seen this here - sorry if it's a duplicate.

Really interesting article on sex-based differences in transport use, and how and why we don't have enough data to properly understand them.

link

An interesting article that chimes with some of my own views on the invisibility of some people's needs to planners. They live on a different planet to me. They tend to focus on commuters and make their narrow plans accordingly.

I would love to use buses but with a baby, toddler, stroller and bags, it's a nightmare.

When they don't clear snow and ice from the uneven pavements, my frail elderly relatives become housebound and rely on me for supplies

I avoid trains and buses that return me home in the evening, for safety reasons. Waiting at a bus stop, I'm the target for obscenties shouted by passing male drivers - I'll avoid that too.

I would love to cycle on short trips, but I feel exposed, unsafe and avoid the off-road cycle paths after incidents of indecent exposure. Who the hell designed a cycle-way that makes it easy for pervs to hide in an isolated spot? I'm sure it never crossed his mind.

I resent the sermons to use my car less and use buses, walk, cycle or car-share. They assume that I am travelling to and from work at a reasonable time of day - not that I work shifts and unsocial hours or that I am accompanied by babies.

Take note planners - Nothing about us, without us

Caroline Criado Perez's latest book about the gender data gap discusses transport issue. Women do have differing transport needs from men, we make more and shorter journeys such as dropping the kids off at school, going to work, picking up shopping on the way home, visiting elderly/less able relatives etc. It's a good read.

Yes, the article (on a transport-focussed website) is based on that book. Which I really ought to read.

It's all very interlinked when you start looking, isn't it? Eg the recent thread on environmental issues / feminism, and your points Pam about how much more difficult it is for women to access sustainable transport.

It’s not just the female 51% of the population who are overlooked, public transport is poorly thought out for disabled people too. A prime example is a ride sharing bus service which has recently been launched in my city. It’s a fabulous idea because you can book a bus to pick you up within a short walk and it’ll drop you close to a destination that may only be three miles away, but would take you two buses and an hour to reach otherwise. The ride sharing buses are buggy and wheelchair accessible which is great. Unfortunately for a blind person what should be a really useful service is completely inaccessible. The pick up and drop off points can vary so when you book on the app there’s a map. Unfortunately the map is completely useless with a screen reader, so when booking a ride I have no idea where I’m getting picked up and dropped off. What’s more there’s no way of making a note for the driver, ‘look out for the woman with the white stick’ for eg. Not to mention the creepy af driver who is a bit, over familiar shall I say. Last time he encountered him it was just me, DP (female) and 11 yo DS on the bus and mr creepy man kept butting into mine and DP’s conversation, then made a sexually inappropriate innuendo of the 70s comedy show variety. Then when we got off the creepy fucker followed us into the shop and carried on talking at us. Now every time he drives past us he waves. So actually no, this particular ride sharing service isn’t great for women either.