A gendered perspective on ride-hail use in Los Angeles, USA

Abstract

Gender differences in travel are pervasive throughout the world. While gender gaps have narrowed in many social spheres, such is generally not the case for travel. In this study, we examine whether gender differences persist on a relatively new travel mode: ride-hail. We do this by examining the use patterns, experiences, and opinions of nearly 300 travelers in metropolitan Los Angeles, California, USA. Our survey responses show that ride-hail service offers a convenient travel option for women – one that enables many of them to access needed destinations in their daily lives. Women in carless or car-deficit households in particular benefit from using ride-hail services to meet their travel needs, which differ, on average, from men’s. For example, more women use ride-hail services for household-serving trips than men. However, ride-hail is not free of challenges for women. Concerns about safety, fear of personal and financial information leakage, and limited digital literacy and access to financial resources can inhibit or prevent some women from using these services. Compared to men, a larger share of women takes ride-hail trips booked by someone else in the household and/or travels with a companion. These findings suggest that public policy should seek to ensure that the option to use ride-hail is extended to as many people – regardless of gender – as possible, including those without mobile devices with data plans and credit or debit accounts. Riders should also be able to easily report problematic behaviors by drivers or fellow passengers to public authorities, in addition to reviews of and reports to ride-hail companies.