Transport Poverty and Gender Equality
Last week, the TRAN Committee of the European Parliament held a debate on “Transport Poverty and Gender Equality” as part of the Gender Equality Week. Transport poverty occurs when individuals lack access to essential services or employment opportunities due to transport options’ unavailability, inaccessibility, or unaffordability. This issue disproportionately affects women, particularly those living in rural areas.
MEP Rosa Serrano Sierra (S&D) highlighted that women in rural areas often face severe transport poverty. Public transport in these regions is either unavailable or unaffordable, with transport costs consuming a significant portion of household incomes. She urged the European Commission to collect gender-specific data on safety, accessibility, and affordability in transport.
MEP Tilly Metz (Greens) stressed the importance of ensuring that the European Social Climate Fund benefits vulnerable groups and supports the expansion of public transport systems. MEP Elena Kountoura (LEFT) pointed out that women’s mobility needs differ from men’s. Women typically make shorter and more frequent journeys, a factor that must be integrated into public transport planning.
Several factors contribute to transport poverty:
- Unavailability of transport: Limited options or low service frequency.
- Inaccessibility: Barriers for disabled individuals and others with specific needs.
- Unaffordability: High costs relative to household incomes.
- Excessive travel times: Long or inconvenient journeys.
- Inadequate conditions: Unsafe or poorly maintained facilities, harassment, and violence.
A 2022 Eurofound report revealed that two-fifths of women in the EU and UK consider public transport crucial for accessing education and employment, compared to one-third of men. Women are also more frequently victims of harassment and violence, which underscores the need for targeted measures in the European Commission’s new Gender Equality Strategy, set to launch in March 2025.
Addressing transport poverty requires that transport services be available, accessible, affordable, and safe for all. This includes women, seniors, young people, individuals with disabilities, and those with low incomes—whether they live in rural, remote, or urban areas. By prioritising these principles, policymakers can ensure equitable access to transport, enabling greater social and economic inclusion across Europe.
