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Gender gaps in ride-hail use in U.S. metropolitan areas

Author

Listed:
  • Yicong Yang

    (University of Wisconsin–Madison)

  • Carolyn McAndrews

    (University of Wisconsin–Madison)

Abstract

Ride-hailing has the potential to reduce gender inequities in transportation if its gender patterns were better understood. This study uses a U.S. national travel survey to examine how the gender gaps in ride-hailing associate with two domains of gender inequity: mobility factors and social norm factors. Our regression models show that ride-hailing is not gender-neutral. On average, men are more likely and more frequently to use ride-hailing than women in U.S. metropolitan areas, controlling for age, race, education, and income. Evidence also points to social norms associated with these patterns—ride-hailing serves employed men more than employed women, more men than women with young children, and car-sufficient men more than car-sufficient women. Recognizing and mitigating the gender gaps in ride-hailing could also benefit socio-economically disadvantaged people. We suggest two directions of interventions: (1) mobility-based interventions taking advantage of ride-hailing to complement public transit among women in lower SES groups; (2) gender-based interventions aiming to support women’s mobility in labor force participation.

Suggested Citation

  • Yicong Yang & Carolyn McAndrews, 2025. "Gender gaps in ride-hail use in U.S. metropolitan areas," Transportation, Springer, vol. 52(2), pages 715-739, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:transp:v:52:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s11116-023-10436-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11116-023-10436-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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