Project overview
Within our current transportation modes, a gender-data gap has led to the design of transportation systems that do not capture the needs and motivations of female travellers. It has already been identified that e-micromobility platforms are more likely to be used by males. Females tend to be more safety conscious, which limits them from feeling comfortable when using micromobility due to the inadequate infrastructure for these modes of travel. Yet, e-micromobility does allow faster personal mobility compared to walking, which is an attractive option at night when women are fearful of using other public travel modes or walking.
The GEM Guidelines project was the first to undertake a sociotechnical systems analysis of the gender factors relating to the use of electric micromobility (e-scooters and ebikes), informed by user-centred data collection (interviews and focus groups with users and non-users or e-mircomobility). This approach enabled the electric micro-mobility system to be reviewed as a whole unit of analysis, rather than taking its behavioural components in isolation (e.g. individual users).
Furthermore the project explored the role of gender in e-micromobility use and experience.
The project has produced guidelines for researchers, practitioners, and industry who are responsible for implementing policy and increasing the uptake of the mobility platforms in response to public health and climate concerns.
The Gender Equitable electric Micro-mobility (GEM) guidelines include a series of recommendations on legislation, equipment, procedures and training related to e-micromobility.
