A New Zealand study has found women generate less travel-related greenhouse gas emissions and use more diverse modes of transport than men.
Researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington examined the transport patterns of almost 50,000 Kiwis between 2002 and 2014 recorded in the New Zealand Household Travel Survey.
Lead researcher Dr Caroline Shaw said despite cars being the dominant mode of travel for all groups, there were distinct patterns of travel linked to gender.
"We found differences in mode for trips for the same purpose by gender. For example, shopping trips undertaken by men in New Zealand are much more likely to be done using a car than those by women."
The research found fewer women cycled (2 percent) than men (5 percent) but women still used the most diverse transport options, Dr Shaw said.
"Women took more trips, but travelled between 12 and 17 percent fewer kilometres per day and were more likely to walk and use public transport than men.
"Thus, women overall had a more diverse and lower greenhouse gas emission travel profile than men."
Dr Shaw said the research, which was published in the International Journal of Transport and Health, showed policies need to focus on how to get men to use cycling and public transport for routine commuting.
"There are many opportunities to make men's travel lower carbon as well," she said. "The regular commute is the perfect trip to replace with cycling or public transport as it is predictable and regular."
It also shows there is potential to support more women in cycling, but there needs to be changes to cycling infrastructure in New Zealand, Dr Shaw said.
"Women are already more flexible and lower carbon travellers than men. We need to provide them with better opportunities and support to do more of this type of travel," she said.
"These would likely require whole street/suburb changes to make them safer and more attractive to walk and cycle for the whole family and be relevant for the places that women travel between, such as shops, schools and libraries, as well as workplaces."
