Is the built-environment at origin, on route, and at destination associated with bicycle commuting? A gender-informed approach: Fid-Bau Portal

Is the built-environment at origin, on route, and at destination associated with bicycle commuting? A gender-informed approach

Higuera-Mendieta, Diana / Uriza, Pablo Andrés / Cabrales, Sergio A. / Medaglia, Andrés L. / Guzman, Luis A. / Sarmiento, Olga L.

Abstract

Abstract There is limited evidence on the gender differences and location-specific built-environment factors associated with bicycling in Latin American cities. This study aimed to assess commuting in Bogotá by (1) analyzing the gender-specific trend of the standardized number of bicycle commuters during 2005–2017; and (2) assessing the socio-demographic, community, built-environment and natural factors associated with bicycle commuting stratified by gender. This secondary-data analysis included data from the Household Travel Surveys and Multipurpose Surveys to calculate the number of bicycle commuters per habitant from 2005 to 2017 by gender. We assessed the socio-demographic and built-environment factors fitting generalized additive models stratified by gender using the 2015 Household Travel Survey. Although both women and men increased the standardized number of bicycle commuters, male commuters show a steeper trend than women, evidencing the widening gender gap in bicycle commuting over time. Bicycle commuting was negatively associated with household motor vehicle ownership, steeper terrain slope, longer commute distance, and scarce low-stress roads at trip origin and route. Among women, the availability of bike paths at the trip destination was positively associated with bicycling, while age and being a student were negatively associated with bicycling. Among men, living in areas with the lowest socio-economic status was positively associated with bicycling, while having a driver's license and living close to bus rapid transit stations were negatively associated with bicycling. In conclusion, bicycle and transport infrastructure play different roles in commuting by bicycle by gender and trip stages (origin – route – destination).

Highlights • Inclusion of location-based factors unveils potential for transport analysis. • Methodology could be applied in cities with similar contexts. • Bicycle commuting in Bogotá has been increasing with marked gender differences. • Associated factors with bicycle commuting differ by gender. • The results may support gender-sensitive mobility planning.