Voi identifies solutions to increase gender equity in e-scooter usage

European micro-mobility operator Voi Technology has partnered with Women in Transport to carry out in-depth research into e-scooter use, which has been reviewed and analysed by Voi’s newly launched Gender Equity Commission for shared e-scooters.

The results and industry-wide recommendations provided by the commission were presented at an All-Party Parliamentary Group for Women in Transport meeting at the House of Commons this week.

The report looks at, for example, how a lack of infrastructure that enables safe, segregated scooting, is a barrier to women using e-scooters. Women also want to gain a better understanding of the law around e-scooters, and need access to safe, well-lit parking spots.

The research findings are summarised into five subject areas: the perceived benefits and disadvantages of riding shared e-scooters; perceptions of shared e-scooter riders; knowledge and understanding; service design; and perceptions of infrastructure. The findings of the research, which was in the form of both a questionnaire of nearly 500 women and five focus groups, relate stresses Voi, to the sector as a whole. 

Key findings and recommendations

Finding: 79% of all respondents said that not feeling safe due to infrastructure was a barrier to (further) riding.

Recommendation: Local and national governments should place the development of infrastructure and reallocation of road-space in cities at the heart of their mobility frameworks, and at the top of their wider transport, environmental and public health agendas.

Finding: 83% of survey respondents (strongly) agreed that drivers’ and other road users’ attitudes towards e-scooter riders was a barrier to (further) using shared e-scooters.

Recommendation: Local authorities should provide clear, positive communications about the status of shared e-scooters in their regions.

Finding: 90% of overall survey respondents agreed (strongly) that they were confident riding a scooter in the day-time, but only 64% at night-time.

Recommendation: Local authorities and e-scooter operators should collaborate to ensure local environments and cultures support night-time safety for women, for example, ensuring public spaces are sufficiently lit, and providing bystander awareness and education to help prevent violence and harassment of women and girls.

Finding: 83% of respondents think docking locations can be a barrier to riding if not located in safe and useful areas.

Recommendation: Local authorities and e-scooter operators should collaborate to ensure women’s transport needs and experiences inform the development of e-scooter regulation and services in specific areas, particularly the location of parking docks and development of infrastructure.

Finding: While 99% of regular riders understand the difference between private and shared scooters, 59% of non-riders said understanding of laws and regulations surrounding e-scooters was a barrier to riding shared e-scooters.

Recommendation: Government(s) should provide clarity and certainty over laws around both shared and private e-scooters.

In addition, Voi has launched a new Gender Safe Parking Standard, which will involve the technical assessment of parking locations based on agreed metrics mapped to a number of indicators that are directly related to women’s safety, to make sure the micro-mobility operator’s parking zones meet the requirements.

Voi has also committed to publishing ridership figures in all of its markets, where data is available. To date, these statistics show that 30 per cent of its riders in the UK are women and that the company’s latest model, Voiager 5, also pioneered a more inclusive design such as featuring a more ergonomic handlebar where the brakes, indicator switch and bell are accessible to the average woman’s hand size. Voi is committed to ensuring that future micro-mobility vehicles will continue to prioritise universal design and include gender mainstreaming principles.

Fredrik Hjelm, Co-founder and CEO of Voi Technology said, “Our overall mission is to create safe, sustainable and reliable micro-mobility for everyone, and we are committed to taking women’s needs seriously. We are delighted to have worked with Women in Transport and the Gender Equity Commission, and are excited to be acting upon their findings and recommendations. By collaborating closely with cities and governments, we can ensure that measures to address barriers that women may have in enjoying e-scooters and feeling safe in doing so will continue to be addressed, in particular with our new Gender Safe Parking Standard.”

Jo Field, President of Women in Transport said, “The gender gap in shared e-scooter use deserves considerable attention from the micro-mobility sector, and anyone else concerned with gender equity in transport and the urban realm. We are delighted to have partnered with Voi on this research, and to have helped develop a robust set of recommendations to move the sector forward. We urge policy makers and e-scooter operators to closely consider the findings and, crucially, take action based on the recommendations.”