Name
Velomobilities of Care: Rethinking Gender and Urban Bikeshare
Date & Time
Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Description
This study applies a gender-based lens to Ottawa’s public bikeshare system to explore how integrating principles of collective care can transform urban mobility. Traditional bikeshare programs often privilege male-centric commuting patterns, overlooking the complex realities faced by women and caregivers—whose everyday movements are constrained by “care binds” imposed by urban design. Drawing on feminist care frameworks and insights from case studies in North Vancouver, Berlin, and Boston, this research examines innovative interventions—such as the incorporation of cargo bikes—that accommodate the transportation of children, groceries, and other caregiving needs. By synthesizing theoretical perspectives with empirical evidence, I propose actionable recommendations for embedding gender equity into Ottawa’s bikeshare planning. The study argues that reimagining bikeshare systems through the concept of velomobilities of care not only alleviates time poverty and enhances accessibility for marginalized groups but also contributes to building more inclusive, community-centered urban environments.
Location Name
Mackenzie (ME) 3356
Session Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract ID
266
Speaker Name
Zackary Ward
Speaker Organization
Carleton University
Session Name
CS102 Geographies of care and mobility