Women On Wheels: A Study of Gender and Cycling in Chinese Cities
About
It is well known that there persists a gender gap in cycling that prevents women from choosing cycling as a primary transport mode in many regions of the world, whether it is due to personal safety concerns, economic factors, or lack of basic infrastructure.
Through the global Cycling Cities campaign and the work of our regional teams, ITDP is committed to promoting cycling policies and infrastructure that makes cycling more accessible, inclusive, and safer for everyone. In 2021 and 2022, ITDP China conducted several cycling-related projects in three different cities. Beijing and Guangzhou, as cities with varying cycling infrastructure, and Nanning, as the city with the highest number of e-bikes in China, were surveyed.
To understand the cycling challenges that women and girls currently face, ITDP collected data through self-conducted surveys, individual interviews, and other engagement methods. Through volume counts at 45 locations within these cities, the report found that women accounted for less than 30% of total cyclists and that the percentages often correlated with the quality, safety, and connectivity of each city’s infrastructure. This research aims to encourage more cities, in China and beyond, to design and plan infrastructure that better reflects the needs of all cyclists, regardless of gender or ability.
Learn More
- Continue Reading on the ITDP Blog →
- Learn More about the Cycling Cities Campaign →
- Read More about “Cycling’s Gender Gap” →
Interested in learning more about this research or have a press inquiry? Email us at mobility@itdp.org.
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