Evaluation of Disparities between Transportation Needs and Trip Patterns of Men and Women in Kandahar City, Afghanistan

Consideration of gender equality in transportation planning is quite a new phenomenon. However, its significance is discussed widely by several researchers, particularly, in developing countries. In Kandahar city of Afghanistan, women have limited choices when it comes to using transportation services. With respect to some cultural, social, contextual, environmental, technological and physical barriers; women do not receive equal services from the current transport sectors. Using Revealed Preference and Stated Preference techniques, a survey was conducted in Kandahar city to identify the differences between trip patterns and transportation needs among men and women of the city. Our findings show distinct and clear disparities in socio-demographic characteristics of men and women of Kandahar city leading to trip disparities. Almost all of women do not own any types of personal vehicles, they are less educated and do not have jobs. Likewise, there is a considerable gap between trip characteristics and patterns of men and women. Majority of female trips are for educational purposes while male trips are more dispersed over multiple activities. Motorcycle is the most dominant and preferred mode for men, while women are mostly walking or using available public transit. Compared to men, women were recorded to have lesser trips per day over short distances. Transportation choices of women are also limited to walking, accompanying other male members of family or using public modes. However, men are generally using their private cars, motorcycles and bicycles together with all those options available for women. The results of Multinomial Logit Model showed that all selected variables such as vehicle ownership, income, travel cost and time will be significant factors for mode choice behavior of men, though for female respondents travel time and travel cost are main factors.