The Role of Gender in Travel Experiences

In the early 1990s, Minnesota became the first state in the nation to prohibit discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity. Yet the state continues to use male-female categories when investigating the role of gender in transportation issues such as travel behavior and transportation accessibility. Since a person’s identity can have a significant influence on their own and others’ behavior and experiences, excluding gender diversity in transportation research could result in an incomplete understanding of the issues and perceptions about quality of life.

This panel will cover the role of gender in transportation planning with three speakers who contributed to a seminal report by Minnesota DOT – the first of its kind by a state DOT – and led a transformational micro transit pilot project in North Minneapolis. Minnesota DOT funded a study on statewide impacts of gender identity on travel behavior. The findings of these efforts can be used to identify potential disparities in transportation costs and benefits across communities in urban, suburban, and rural areas across the country. The panel will highlight strategies for planners to better understand and address the needs of all gender identities to advance equity.

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