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Women’s Travel Patterns and the Environment: An Agenda for Research

Demographic change, new family structures, and concerns about personal safety are contributing to a growing use of motorized transportation by women. The increasing importance of women as travelers has implications for the ways in which transportation policy must be reviewed in an era when sustainable development has become a key issue. An appreciation of the particular nature of women’s travel behavior, and their designed behavior, could facilitate an easier path to sustainability. The travel patterns, needs, and psychology of women are examined, as well as the influence of these patterns and behavior on efforts to promote sustainable development. Women’s travel patterns differ in important ways from those of men. In particular, gender differences arise in (a) the distance traveled, (b) the mode of travel, and (c) the complexity and purpose of trip making. The particular psychology of women contributes to these patterns. In comparison with men, women tend to be prone to ambivalent feelings, but their analysis of these feelings can prompt leaps in thought and creative solutions to problems. In addition, women are more risk averse than men. Risk aversion may affect women’s travel decisions—for example, when security is a concern. Changes in the economy also are placing new demands and constraints on women, their lives, and their travel patterns. Future research on women and transportation should focus on the psychological aspects of women’s travel, the special travel needs and circumstances of women, and the influence of changing economic conditions on women’s travel patterns and the environment.