Mind the gap: Gender bias in the transport industry

Recent studies report that whilst women make up 47 percent of the UK workforce, they remain heavily underrepresented in the transport sector. As a result, many of the key policy and investment decisions taken within the industry are made by men, despite clear evidence that men and women have different needs when it comes to public transport. Reports show that women are more likely to use transport for shorter but more frequent trips and they are also more often accompanied by children or older relatives compared to men. Not only this, but many women opt to use private cars at night due to safety concerns.

This inherent bias is likely to be a huge factor in explaining why transport remains such a male-dominated industry as many women may not feel welcomed into the sector, and in turn, this reinforces the underlying imbalance. In order to break this vicious cycle, gender considerations should be included at the earliest stages of transport infrastructure planning so that the sector is inclusive, safe and accessible to all. However, women should not feel compelled to change who they are to fit into a traditionally male-led space. Instead, diversity and inclusion should be achieved by taking positive steps to actively include all individuals, regardless of their gender or background.

Bringing awareness to this issue is the first key step, however, conversation must be coupled with genuine action to improve representation within the industry. Organisational culture is key and attitudes in support of change should come from the top down. Some organisations are ahead on their journey towards change, however, continued progress must remain an aspiration for all. As well as this, the transport industry should work to remove barriers to entry so that females know from an early age that this is an option for them should they wish to pursue a career in the sector. Additional support should also be given to women already in the industry looking to take the next step and transition into managerial roles. It is only then that we may begin to see more equal representation in transport.