Transport systems shape who can access opportunities and who is left behind. In this article for POLIS Magazine, Harshita Jamba and Aravinda Devaraj unpack how gender-responsive approaches to urban mobility can transform planning and decision-making. Using evidence from Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Kochi the article shows how inclusive mobility benefits not just women, but the wider urban ecosystem.

When we speak about gender and mobility, the conversation often focuses on safety in public transport, last-mile connectivity, or the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work that shapes women’s travel patterns.

The survey in Kochi revealed that 62% of women have no access to a personal vehicle, and even among households that own one, only 38% said that it was available to them. In contrast, among vehicle-owning households, 85% of men enjoy unrestricted access.