Opening wide the gates of politics? A study of participatory budgeting, gender equity and active travel

Trust in political institutions in the UK is at a record low, whilst the urgency of climate action grows ever greater. There is a need to regain trust in Government, undertake rapid action to invest in our services and tackle inequalities in society. Cities and urban areas are crucial arenas for this action, and how people move around the built environment is central to this. Yet how people move around the city, and who makes decisions about our cities, is gendered.
Addressing the specific barriers that prevent women from cycling will help reduce emissions and make the city more equitable, sharing the health, wellbeing and economic benefits of cycling across society.
This report takes one question as a starting point: whether participatory budgeting, a form of participatory democracy where citizens directly decide how to spend public money, can contribute to a more gender-equitable active travel system.