Current Status
Price
Get Started
Gender Equal Mobility
Transport and mobility systems are not static. They are constantly moving and developing in response to the changing needs of the society they serve.
In this gender and mobility course, we focus on gender and the process of gender mainstreaming, which aims to achieve equality by taking into account the diverse perspectives and needs of all users when shaping policy, planning infrastructure, or designing vehicles. This approach is a key tool for creating transport and mobility strategies that are both inclusive and effective.
Inclusive transport isn’t just fair — it makes systems safer, more efficient, more sustainable, and a better experience for everyone.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Recognise that people experience mobility differently — and spot whose needs might be overlooked.
- Understand why bringing a gender-aware perspective to mobility planning leads to better decisions.
- Identify biases in current mobility planning practices and reflect on how they could be improved.
- Explore practical tools for inclusive mobility planning, such as equality vs equity approaches, the feminine mobility concept, and gender impact assessments, illustrated with real study cases.
Audience
This course is relevant to anyone working or interested in urban mobility planning and policy as well as in making cities a more inclusive place to live in.
Modules
4 modules
Recommended schedule
2-3 days
Total length
4 hours
About the Course
Instructors
Julia Nyberg (Trivector)
Julia is an urban planner specialising in gender equality and socially sustainable mobility. She brings a system-perspective on how transport influences everyday life, safety, and access for different groups. Julia leads both national and international research and consultancy projects that embed gender equality in traffic and mobility planning. She is skilled in strategic early-stage planning, designing, and facilitating participatory workshops, and communicating findings clearly and engagingly to clients and wider audiences.
Dr. Christian Dymén (Trivector)
Christian is a consultant, researcher, facilitator, and speaker with a focus on social sustainability, gender- and goal-steered planning processes. He has over twenty years of experience of commissioned work as well as research related to gender equality, equal rights and social sustainability in transport and mobility planning. Christian has published several peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals related to these fields and serves as an external panel reviewer for research council funding applications.
Guest speakers
Warmest thanks to Annika Dalen and Linda Gustafsson from the Municipality of Umeå, Sweden for their contributions to the course, with feature items showcased in module 4.
Course Syllabus
Module 1 – How do we travel?
Societies have changed dramatically, and traditional gender roles are shifting. Fathers increasingly take paternity leave, women are building careers, and dual-income households are more common. Despite these changes, research shows men and women often have different travel patterns and mobility preferences. Understanding these gender and mobility differences is key to designing inclusive and equitable transport systems. This module introduces these patterns and why they matter for mobility planning.
Module 2 – Why Do Men and Women Travel Differently?
Travel choices are influenced by values, attitudes, social norms, and economic factors. In this module, you’ll explore the reasons behind gender differences in mobility, including how work patterns, household responsibilities, and income distribution shape travel behaviour. Understanding these differences can help develop smarter, more inclusive transport solutions. You will examine how social, cultural, and economic factors impact mobility choices. This knowledge of gender and mobility is essential for designing future transport systems that work for everyone.
Module 3 – Check Your Blind Spot. Who Is Mobility Designed For?
Mobility planning has historically reflected male-dominated societies, where one wage could support a household. Today, shared work and domestic roles, sustainability, and diverse lifestyles challenge traditional planning assumptions. This module examines hidden biases in transport systems and why thinking in categories like “commuters” can oversimplify reality. You’ll explore the difference between equality (same resources) and equity (fair outcomes for diverse users). Understanding these blind spots helps create fairer, more inclusive mobility systems.
Module 4 – A Gendered Approach for a More Inclusive Transport System
Modern mobility systems must support equality, sustainability, and economic growth. This module introduces the feminine mobility concept to design safe and inclusive transport systems. You’ll explore solutions such as mixed-use urban spaces, green infrastructure, safe active travel routes, and efficient last-mile connectivity. These approaches help people of all genders and backgrounds participate fully in work, domestic, and leisure activities. Applying these strategies ensures transport is equitable, sustainable, and efficient.
Free & Paid options
You can access and participate in the course for free. If you want to earn a certificate upon completion, you can purchase it. The certificate will be accessible only once the course is successfully completed. For more details, please see the FAQ page.
Course Content
Ratings and Reviews
Martina Bianchini
The course appears to rely on a binary male–female framework of gender identity, without adequately accounting for non-conforming or non-binary identities. An equity-oriented mobility framework would therefore move beyond generic “gender roles” and instead apply an intersectional lens.
Mélanie Ribault
The course talks about many topics but is never giving concrete tips and examples (except for the last module). Sometimes, the topics are not evidently related to gender-equality. Also, I feel like gender stereotypes are enhanced by the "this is not a stereotype, it is statistics" way of explaining. The course still made me think about some aspects of mobility so it worked it that way!
Urban Mobility Explained Support
Hi Mélanie! Thank you for your feedback, we appreciate the time you took to complete the course and leave a review. The last module indeed explores various examples of the mobility planning we hope to see more of in cities worldwide. The current data on gender mobility is not ideal because it tends to reflect how societies have stereotypically shaped views of men and women throughout history. This point is mentioned several times throughout the course. However, we appreciate you bringing this matter to our attention, and we have shared your comments with our team. Thank you again!
Hi Martina! Thank you for your feedback. Indeed, the current data on gender mobility tends to reflect how societies have stereotypically shaped views of men and women throughout history, and this point is mentioned several times throughout the course. However, we have shared and discussed your comments with our team to take them into account in future publications. Thank you again for the time you took to complete the course and leave a review!