Bicycle facilities and women's cycling frequency – An intersectional analysis of gendered travel behaviour

Abstract

Bicycle facilities are a widely used sustainable transportation policy tool, but their role in mitigating gendered barriers to cycling is less studied. This paper presents the findings from an online household survey conducted in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Canada, focusing on 10 neighbourhoods- five with a newly constructed facility and five without. In this work, we explore how socially influenced and intersectional gendered experiences (expressed through age, employment, having children and trip-chaining) may influence commute-related cycling, in the presence or absence of bicycle facilities. Results from binomial logistic regression models indicate a higher likelihood of cycling at least once a week, for commuting purpose, amongst women who are 30–44 years old, who work part-time or are students, who have children, and who engage in trip chaining during commute, in neighbourhoods with a bicycle facility. We also found that in the absence of bicycle facilities, women’s likelihood of cycling frequently was no different than men’s. Using a feminist geography lens, we argue that the presence of new bicycle facilities potentially allowed some women to minimize the barriers they experience when cycling, including social expectations around feminine performance on streets. We show the importance of intersectional analyses in cycling research. By addressing women’s traditional gender roles, opportunities and patriarchal division of labor, transportation policy can positively influence women's participation in cycling.