About the Author

This toolkit was developed through a combination of research and professional practice. The scope of this toolkit was shaped by the German Chancellor Fellowship, and focuses on Germany, the U.S., and nearby European contexts.

The research was further developed and translated into a practical toolkit for planners, designers, and public agencies. This publication was made possible by the German Chancellor Fellowship, with the support of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and under the patronage of the Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Leah is an urban planner focused on advancing gender-inclusive and equitable mobility planning. Her work is grounded in helping planners, designers, and public agencies better understand who transportation systems serve and who they leave out.

Leah is based in the United States and holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) from the University of Michigan. She has a background working in local government, where she began to notice a persistent gap between who transportation systems are planned for and the realities of everyday mobility. As a disabled person who, at times in her life, has not been able to drive, Leah’s approach to mobility planning is shaped by lived experience navigating transportation systems while relying on them. This perspective has deeply influenced her interest in gender-inclusive mobility and the need for planning practices that reflect the diverse ways people move through the world.

Illustration of four people using an ADA accessible curb ramp that connects the road to the sidewalk. Two older adults are are walking together. A person using a wheelchair begins to cross the street. Another person is pulling a suitcase.

About the Process

A woman with long brown hair smiling outdoors in an urban setting with buildings in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • This toolkit is intended as an introduction to gender-inclusive mobility planning. It helps bridge the gap between theory, research, and practice by providing practical resources and guidance. While it is not comprehensive, it offers a starting point for rethinking and improving urban mobility through urban planning and design.

  • The toolkit is for designers, planners, policymakers, advocates, and anyone seeking to integrate gender-inclusive mobility into the planning and design process.

  • Gender-inclusive planning centers the voices and experiences of women, gender minorities, and girls of all ages and abilities in the urban planning and design process.

  • Transport and mobility systems are not currently planned or designed for all users. In the United States, our built environment has largely been shaped for generations by and for men, with planners and decision-makers using the commutes of cisgender, able-bodied men as a prototype.

    Women and gender minorities make up more than 50% of the population. It is time to design for all, so that every person, regardless of gender, can move freely and safely through their entire journey.

  • The toolkit includes a Key Resources page for those interested in learning more. You can also subscribe to the Substack to receive quarterly newsletters with best practices, updates, and additional resources.

    For questions, feedback, or inquires, please use the form on the Contact page.