The impact of COVID-19 is not gender neutral: regional scale changes in modal choices in Sicily

Gender equality is a fundamental human right and is part of one of the goals of the 2030 Agenda (Goal 5), which promotes a more equitable and sustainable way of life. A gender imbalance still exists in the transport sector. Over the years, the reasons why women travel have changed, as have their modal preferences, thanks to the introduction of concessions (pink parking, pregnant seats) but also thanks to the introduction of new forms of mobility and multi-modality. However, several works in the literature point out that women's journeys are in many cases more difficult than those of men because there are several factors that influence this imbalance. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to a widening this gap. Through the administration of an online questionnaire, it was possible to find data regarding socio-demographic characteristics, travel habits and finally to analyze the main problems and feelings (feeling of safety on board, perception of a possible contagion and overall evaluation of gender equity both as passengers and as drivers of vehicles) related to the different modes of transport present in the Sicilian context. A statistical comparison of the results was defined considering the different pandemic phases from January 2020 to December 2021. The results show the basis for a better mobility planning starting from the resolution of the COVID-19 crisis that represents an opportunity to change the status quo.