Designing inclusive cities: A framework for gender and age-responsive urban mobility

Singh, Karishma and Choudhury, Deepashree (2025) Designing inclusive cities: A framework for gender and age-responsive urban mobility. International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 15 (1). pp. 637-648. ISSN 2582-8185

Mobility plays a crucial role in ensuring social inclusion, economic participation, and overall quality of life. However, urban mobility systems often fail to address the needs of vulnerable populations, particularly women and the elderly. This study conducts a systematic literature review to identify urban design interventions that promote gender- and age-inclusive mobility. Initially, 80 peer-reviewed papers were selected from Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect, the most relevant databases for urban studies and mobility research. Through keyword frequency analysis, the selection was refined to 30 key studies for in-depth review. The study explores inclusive mobility principles, identifying key urban design strategies such as universal accessibility, pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, gender-sensitive planning, and technology integration. It also examines barriers to inclusive mobility, including safety concerns, inadequate public transport access, and poor last-mile connectivity. The research further categorizes gender- and age-specific urban mobility challenges and proposes critical parameters and indicators for intervention. A significant outcome of this study is the proposal of the Pink Map, a data-driven urban planning tool that maps safe and accessible urban spaces for women and the elderly. By leveraging GIS mapping, community participation, and real-time feedback, the Pink Map serves as a decision-making tool for policymakers and a reporting platform for citizens. Findings indicate that a multi-scalar approach integrating policy reforms, urban design strategies, and participatory planning is essential to achieving inclusive mobility. The study emphasizes the need for data-driven decision-making, technology-enabled safety solutions, and gender- and age-sensitive urban transport policies to ensure equitable access to mobility for all.