Integrating Big Data and a Travel Survey to Understand the Gender Gap in Ride-Hailing Usage: Evidence from Chengdu, China

Abstract

Improving transport systems to increase women's access to social opportunities and essential facilities has been key to reducing gender inequality. Studies have examined the gendered nature of travel from the perspective of a mismatch between women’s needs and availability of transport services, including fragmentized activity space, low affordability, and sensitization to safety. However, minimal attention has been given to the gender gap in the age of ride-hailing. Thus, this paper examines the nexus between gender and ride-hailing usage from the aspect of activity space and affordability. Two key questions are explored: (a) Are women dependent on ride-hailing? (b) If ride-hailing serves women differentially, how does this gender difference in the use of ride-hailing services occur? An innovative integration of big data and a travel survey is developed to examine such questions in Chengdu, China. Survey results and modelling analysis indicate that gender gaps in mobility is relatively mitigated by ride-hailing.