Compounded barriers: the intersection of gender and age in ride-hailing usage

Journal article

Abstract Urban mobility disparities are shaped by the intersection of gender and age, yet their combined effects on the adoption of emerging mobility services remain insufficiently understood. This study applies an intersectional framework to examine how gender, age, and their interaction influence ride-hailing usage across different travel purposes, with a focus on the mediating role of socioeconomic and environmental factors. Using structural equation modelling and data from 1006 surveys conducted in Chengdu, China, this study suggests that neither gender nor age alone sufficiently explains mobility disparities in adopting ride-hailing. Age exerts a stronger and more consistent effect than gender on ride-hailing adoption. The negative impact of older age is evident for all trip purposes, while gender differences are primarily indirect and mediated through income, especially for commuting. When considering interaction terms, older women face compounded disadvantages: while income generally increases with age due to seniority, older women experience slower income growth compared to older men, leaving them at a relative economic disadvantage.

Authors: Qiao, S; Schwanen, T; Li, X; Yeh, AG

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Springer
• Journal: Transportation
• Pages: 1-25
• Publication date: 2025-08-07
• DOI: 10.1007/s11116-025-10664-z
• EISSN: 1572-9435
• ISSN: 0049-4488
• Language: English
• Keywords: Seniority; Disadvantage