Who’s Really Steering the Future of Transport? Why Equity Must Be in the Driver’s Seat!
"AI may map the roads, but it takes women with lived experience to build the journey. Equity isn't a destination, it's the way we design movement for everyone."
From self-driving vehicles to AI-optimised logistics, the transport sector is racing ahead with innovation. But in many cities, the everyday reality tells a different story. Financially strained councils are reducing services while charging more, public infrastructure is lagging and poorly planned electric vehicle rollouts have left many unconvinced. And with the rise of 15- or 20-minute city policies promoted by the World Economic Forum, important questions are surfacing “What happens to the elderly, the disabled, small businesses or caregivers who depend on cars? Are we building a future for all or just for some?”
AI may be advancing logistics and mobility design, but it risks exacerbating existing transport inequalities. While digital solutions are being deployed at pace, many communities especially those on the margins are still waiting for basic, affordable and accessible options. Equity cannot be an afterthought in smart city design.
Women over 40, especially those rooted in their communities or experienced in policy, planning or sustainability, are emerging as fierce advocates for inclusive mobility. They are leading local transit campaigns, advising on AI route design with an equity lens and ensuring that alternative mobility solutions are tailored to real needs not hypothetical efficiency models.
In India, the city of Pune launched a women-led project using AI to map safe travel routes for female commuters. Results included increased workforce participation and a measurable drop in harassment. In Europe, several women-led logistics firms are piloting hybrid transport models that blend e-bikes, community vans and local partnerships offering practical alternatives where EV infrastructure falls short.
UN Women’s 2022 mobility report found that over half of women cite transport safety and affordability as key barriers to employment. Post-COVID trends show rising demand for remote logistics roles and on-demand local delivery sectors where women are underrepresented but increasingly in demand. There's growing recognition that the success of future transport systems depends on their ability to serve ‘everyone’ not just tech-savvy urban elites.
The Opportunity for Women
Women in this space can:
Co-create practical alternatives to private car dependency
Lead local audits on transport equity and accessibility
Shape AI logistics tools for safer, smarter and more inclusive travel
Design hybrid mobility models that blend tech with lived realities
Leadership Exercise:
Observe your local transit ecosystem. What patterns of exclusion or overpricing do you notice?
Sketch a mobility system that blends technological innovation with real-world usability. Who benefits and how can you build allies to bring it to life?
The future of transport isn’t just autonomous it must be accountable. And it won’t be sustainable unless it’s inclusive. Women over 40 especially those who know the weight of caregiving, commuting and community life have the insight to build what comes next.
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