The concept of gendered mobility highlights that urban transportation systems and spatial dynamics are fundamentally not gender-neutral, but are instead driven by complex social, economic, and cultural inequalities. Historically, transportation planning has overlooked the distinct needs of women, employing "gender-neutral" frameworks that fail to capture the unique constraints they face in daily travel. A primary determinant of this disparity is the unequal household division of labor and what is termed the "mobility of care". Because women are predominantly responsible for domestic duties and caregiving, they often undertake complex, fragmented "trip chains" to run errands, shop for groceries, and manage household needs. This disproportionate burden severely limits their spatial mobility, tying their travel closely to family schedules and resulting in pervasive "time poverty" that restricts their access to broader economic and urban opportunities.

Beyond household constraints, the pervasive threat and fear of gender-based violence and sexual harassment severely restrict how women navigate urban environments. Safety concerns directly influence women's transport decisions, leading to avoidance behaviors, limited nocturnal travel, and the necessity to constantly negotiate space to minimize exposure to hostile environments. These intertwined challenges result in a significant gender gap across travel modes, affecting the uptake of public transit, cycling, shared taxis, and micromobility. To bridge this gap and foster inclusive cities, modern urban planning must transcend traditional approaches by embracing intersectional, demographic-specific policies that accommodate the mobility needs of all marginalized populations, including low-income informal workers and gender-nonconforming individuals.

These discussions and more are available in articles of the Special Issue: Gendered Mobility, led by our colleagues, Prof. Dr. Margarita Martínez Díaz, Dr. Christelle Al Haddad, and Dr. Mohamed Abouelela (see below).