Fair mobility and access to public life – FAIR MOBILITY

The European Commission regards equality between men and women as a fundamental right and has implemented a dual approach to achieve gender equality. This involves integrating a gender perspective into the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policies, which is known as "gender mainstreaming". Furthermore, the Commission aims to eliminate, prevent, or remedy gender inequalities between men and women. Despite these measures, the implementation of gender mainstreaming in mobility policies remains a significant challenge today. This is evident from the persistent gender disparities in access to and experience of mobility. According to the latest Eurobarometer surveys conducted in 2020, women are less likely to own a car than men, with only 49% of women owning a car compared to 59% of men. Women also use public transport more frequently, with 31% of women using public transport compared to 24% of men. Women's mobility is also disproportionately affected by safety concerns such as the risk of harassment or road accidents. Additionally, women are responsible for travel related to care and domestic activities that are essential for the reproduction of life, which is commonly known as "care mobility".

In the context where Europe is committed to reducing transport-related greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2050 under the Green Deal, public authorities are faced with the daunting task of ensuring equal access to amenities and taking proactive measures to promote sustainable, affordable and equitable mobility. This challenge is particularly critical in peri-urban and rural areas, which have a lower density of local amenities and high dependence on private cars. However, the gender dimension, which is a vital aspect of this challenge, is not well integrated, apart from its safety aspects. Although developing walking and cycling is considered a priority, the issue of unequal access to public spaces based on gender and the way in which the heteronormative framework influences urban planning, infrastructure, equipment, and vehicles are not adequately addressed or even not linked to sustainability issues. Furthermore, public transportation services and "new mobility services" are poorly adapted to the needs of diverse populations, including those related to gender, income, age, or belonging to minority groups. To achieve a truly sustainable and equitable mobility system, public authorities need to take a holistic approach that considers the gender dimension and the needs of all individuals in society. This includes rethinking urban planning, infrastructure, equipment, and vehicles to ensure that they meet the needs of diverse populations while also promoting sustainable mobility.

In response to the concerned findings, the Fair Mobility aims at develop guidelines that integrate gender perspectives into mobility policies and services, particularly in peri-urban and rural areas. The project will conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current situation of mobility inequality and diverse needs for access to amenities using an intersectional approach. The next step will involve collaborating with the public and relevant stakeholders to develop effective tools to address gender inequalities and prevent gender-based discrimination in everyday mobility practices. The effectiveness of these tools will be tested in two pilot municipalities, Creil in France and Ebensee in Austria, with the participation of local stakeholders and the public. The consortium comprises university laboratories and NGOs with diverse skills, including mobility analysis, gender studies, urban planning, and public policy, from four European countries, namely Germany, Austria, France, and Romania. The consortium's network of partners and identification of successful practices across Europe will facilitate the assessment of the replicability of the tools in other municipalities, particularly in Germany and Romania.