Understanding how women use transit does not just help make systems more equitable. It also guides policy and planning changes that benefit all riders.
Research shows that public transit is not meeting the needs of women around issues such as safety, cost, and accessibility. "Yet it’s hard to know how different tactics [to improve transit] address different problems, because few governments and transit agencies take gender into account when collecting ridership data," writes Flavie Halais.
Transport for London is one agency that has regularly collected and analyzed data about women’s travel patterns. Other U.S. agencies are following suit, including the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which last year released an in-depth report about how women travel.
Collecting data on how women use transit can be challenging, costly, and time consuming. Still, it is essential to make transit systems more equitable, says Halais. "Big data is, ultimately, political. It’s about asking the right questions and also acting on the answers."
FULL STORY: Making Public Transit Fairer to Women Demands Way More Data
L.A. Metro Report Examines How Women Travel
Findings from a new study about the mobility needs and concerns of women in Los Angeles will inform future initiatives and planning.
Planned L.A. Crenshaw Line Rollout Prompts Argument
Already delayed, the Crenshaw Line has now sparked debate between stakeholders who favor opposing visions of how the light rail service should link up with the existing Green Line.
LA Metro Celebrates Bike Month With Free Rides, Discounted Bike Share
Skeptical about riding a bike in Los Angeles? Its transit agency wants to change your mind this May.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research