Does the Built Environment Explain Gender Gap in Cycling? a Study of Post-Secondary Students in Toronto, Canada

Abstract

Background The benefits of cycling as a healthier and more sustainable transportation alternative to private automobile are well-documented. One key policy challenge is the significant gender gap in cycling that exists across urban regions in North America. The millennial generation can be an important target for cycling-related policy and programs, because typically they demonstrate a more positive attitude toward cycling compared to older generations. In this study, travel behaviour of post-secondary students in Toronto, Canada, was analyzed to explore potential gender-based differences in cycling uptake among the millennial generation. Both commute and non-commute trips were studied. Particular emphasis was placed on the potential influence of the built environment, travel preferences and attitudes on cycling behaviour. Methods Data came from the StudentMoveTO survey, which was conducted in Fall 2015. More than 15,000 students from 4 Toronto-area universities participated in the survey, and recorded detailed data on all trips taken in one day. Binomial logistic regression models were estimated to explore the correlates of cycling for both commute and non-commute trips. Separate models were estimated for female and male students to examine the difference in correlates across gender. Results Our results indicate that female students cycled less compared to male students for both commute (6.8% versus 10.3%) and non-commute (7.9% versus 11.6%) purposes. Travel preferences and attitudes were strongly associated with the likelihood of cycling, however, difference between men and women was only minor. Instead, neighbuorhood built environment-related correlates were noticeably different between female and male students. Access to dedicated cycling infrastructure such as a cycle track or bicycle lane, and high business density, were associated with higher odds of cycling to school, but only among female students. Further, high speed traffic was a significant barrier to cycling among female commuters. Such effects were not present when male commute trips were explored. On the contrary, these built environment characteristics did not explain female cycling for non-commute purposes, as much as they did for male students. Instead, access to cars had a stronger influence on their non-commute travel mode choice (OR = 0.48). Conclusions More male post-secondary students cycle for commute and non-commute purposes than female students. However, improved built environment may increase cycling among women, particularly for commuting. This research identifies potential avenues for policy intervention regarding the promotion of healthy and sustainable travel behavior among the millennial generation, who are understudied and somewhat under-represented in current travel behaviour research.