Organiser: Transport Infrastructure Ireland
'Modal shift’ is often cited as a key goal of sustainable transport investment and a vital part of building resilient and sustainable transport networks. But encouraging people to move out of cars and into shared and active transport requires policy and infrastructure that reflect real travel needs. One way of achieving this is through gender mainstreaming—recognising that gender significantly shapes mobility, and using this insight to design better solutions. Yet, despite strong global evidence that gender is central in achieving modal shift, there is still a significant gap between research and practice.
This session presents a case study from Ireland showing what gender mainstreaming can look like for transport stakeholders. It focuses on Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and its efforts to embed gender considerations into policy, planning and design. This work began with TII’s landmark study Travelling in a Woman’s Shoes (2020), which found that women in Ireland rely heavily on cars due to caregiving responsibilities, safety concerns and unequal access to transport.
In response, TII published a technical standard in 2021— Applying a Gender Lens to TII Public Transport Projects—and began applying these principles to major projects. This session will share insights from TII’s work on two greenfields tramway extensions, Luas Cork and Luas Finglas, highlighting the practical challenges and opportunities in integrating gender equality into transport systems.
TII’s experience offers valuable lessons for governments, researchers, transport professionals and international institutions interested in moving from research to practice regarding inclusive and sustainable mobility.
SPEAKERS
Rachel Cahill, Director of Executive Office and Sustainability Lead, Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Eimear Fox, Senior Landscape Architect, Transport Infrastructure Ireland
