The proportion of women riding shared bicycles, in Brazil, is six times greater than among cyclists in general
The study Micromobility in the Global South also shows that the difference can reach up to 12 times in some cities.
Bicycle sharing systems (BSS) are more than just an urban mobility service, they are an important tool for improving people’s quality of life. Most cities that are considered benchmarks in quality of life currently have one or more BSS in operation. Tembici stands out, in this context, as the largest bike sharing operator in Latin America in terms of number of systems, number of bicycles available, and volume of rides made.
The study Micromobility in the Global South, published in 2022, brings a comprehensive analysis of data collected between January 2019 and December 2021 concerning the systems operated by Tembici in Brazil, Argentina and Chile. The study main purpose is to characterize the company’s acting in this context and present figures evidencing Tembici’s relevance in promoting sustainable urban mobility in Latin America. Therefore, knowing Tembici is essential to understand how bike sharing has become a feasible and efficient transportation alternative in this region of the world.
In this article, published on the International Women’s Day, a reflection is presented on the challenges faced by women in urban mobility, as well as the role of bike sharing and the need for public policies to improve the quality of urban commutes performed by women.
The study Micromobility in the Global South offers a detailed analysis of the characteristics of bicycle use and the user’s profile, showing that only about 7% of the people who use bicycles in Brazil are women. However, when it comes to bike sharing systems, women represent 40% of users.
When talking about democratizing access to bicycles there are several challenges related to encouraging the use of sustainable modes. When women are engaged in the discussion, these challenges become even more complex. In a country where more than half of the population is made up of women they represent less than 10% of cyclists in large cities like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Recife. This gender discrepancy draws even more attention when we look at women’s participation in bike sharing systems.
This indicates that bike share systems play an important role in promoting female mobility in South American countries, where the bicycle is often seen as an unsafe mode of transportation for women. With this, Tembici stands out as an important agent of transformation of urban mobility in Latin America, promoting greater gender equity in the access to sustainable modes of transport and contributing to the construction of more inclusive and sustainable cities.
To explain the higher presence of women riding shared bicycles, it is important to highlight the influence of factors such as the location of the stations, which are strategically installed in busy, well-lit places and close to cycling infrastructures and other means of transport, providing a greater sense of security. In addition, the convenience of picking up and dropping off at fixed stations and not worrying about the maintenance of the bicycles also contribute to this greater adherence of women to bike sharing systems.
It is important to point out that this reality is not exclusive to Brazil, but can also be observed in countries like Chile, where Tembici also operates, and where women represent only 3% of people who cycle in general, while in bike sharing systems this figure reaches 35%, which represents a significant increase of women cycling.
Bike sharing is also an agent for income generation, especially for e-commerce and food deliveries. This segment of users is formed by a less favored public, economically sidelined. This population has found in the bicycle a way to generate income and, consequently, move the economy. Tembici serves this public with projects tailored to their needs.
Bicycle sharing as income generation.
When analyzing the presence of women in the delivery segment, there is a gender disparity among delivery guys. As indicated by Tembici, the number of female delivery service users in some cities is higher than the total proportion of female delivery women. However, an Aliança Bike’s study conducted in São Paulo shows that women represent only 1% of all delivery cyclists in the city, while those using Tembici’s shared bikes represent 19% of delivery cyclists.
Given the data presented in this article, it is clear the importance of encouraging women’s participation in urban mobility and promoting public policies that ensure the safety and accessibility of women in this context. Shared bicycles can be an efficient and inclusive solution for urban mobility, but it is necessary that measures are implemented to ensure equal access and opportunity for all people.
Study methodology
In addition to the questionnaire answered by 5,700 people from Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, the study production relied on multiple research methodologies, which were: Desk research with LATAM bike sharing systems, secondary and administrative data analysis, and data from research conducted by Itaú Unibanco in partnership with Cebrap.
