The Gender Divide in Transport Is Starting to Crumble
Cities across Europe are working to unwind a focus on the traditional male commuter to more inclusive forms of mobility.
To reach the shops and restaurants across the Main river in Offenbach, pedestrians from Frankfurt’s east side need to dodge bikes and squeeze past one another on a path that’s barely wider than a stroller at its narrowest point.
In busy periods, the bottleneck often forces mothers and kids to momentarily step into the roadway. Car drivers, by contrast, get two generous lanes, a sign of the disparate priorities in urban planning that favors the traditional role of male commuters. It’s a concept that’s now undergoing a rethink.