Transport is one area where gender implications might not be obvious.

To bring gender into the policy issue, you could consider the different needs of groups of women and men using public transport. Because of their lower income levels, women are more likely than men to rely on public transport. Women may find it harder to cover the costs of maintaining a vehicle than men because of lower incomes on average.

Also, higher participation in part-time and casual work and greater responsibility for unpaid work means that women are more likely than men to use transport at off-peak times.

To bring gender into the policy options, you could consider that changes to public transport can have a negative impact on groups of women. It can reduce their ability to work in part-time and casual jobs, to access services – including health care – or to assist in the care of relatives and friends. Poor night transport services also pose problems for women’s physical safety. Public transport can also be difficult for women (and men) travelling to work with children, and this can lead to women using private transport instead at a higher cost. Good design of public transport services to accommodate young children is important (e.g. providing good access for prams and strollers).