Going the distance: Gender differences in travel in Montréal, Canada

Transport and gender are intrinsically intertwined. However, traditionally, transport planning has tended to favor the travel needs of adult men in home-work trajectories, thereby ignoring women's distinct experiences and needs. More recently, scholars have looked at the relationship between transport and gender, highlighting important discrepancies in travel behavior (e.g., mode, purpose, time of trip). Yet, thorough spatial analysis, especially for the Canadian context, remains scarce. This study examines the differences in spatial travel patterns between men and women in Montréal, Canada, using the 2018 Origin-Destination survey. First, the distance travelled by men and women is analyzed through descriptive statistics, and two distinct bootstrapped linear regression models are generated to identify key determinants of travel distance among women and men. Second, a ratio of the number of trips (women/men) ending in each census tract is generated to identify areas predominantly visited by women. A local spatial autocorrelation analysis is then performed. Findings show that women's trips tend to be more local than men's, possibly attributable to socio-cultural factors. Differences between gender are most visible among lower-income groups and in suburban areas, while the presence of children in the household reduces women's distances more substantially than men's. Significant spatial clusters were found for women and men, with distinct land use and transport characteristics. This research highlights the need for researchers and practitioners to consider gender differences in transport planning and can contribute to formulating and designing more equitable transport policy and systems for men and women.