The Self-Assessment Tool for Gender-responsive Public Transport (SAT-GPT) is a practical, self-guided checklist designed to help public transport service providers and mobility authorities identify strengths and gaps in gender mainstreaming across their systems — covering planning, implementation, operation, and monitoring.
Originally developed and piloted as an Excel-based tool, SAT-GPT has been relaunched in 2026 as an interactive online platform, making it more accessible and easier to use for institutions across different contexts.
Why it matters
Transport systems are not gender-neutral. Women, girls, and other vulnerable groups face distinct barriers in accessing safe, affordable, and dignified mobility: from poorly lit stops and schedules that ignore care work patterns, to the near-total absence of women in transport workforce and decision-making. Despite growing recognition of these inequalities, many institutions still lack practical tools to translate gender commitments into concrete action.
SAT-GPT was developed to bridge this gap, providing a structured, accessible entry point for institutions to reflect on where they stand and what to prioritize next.
What the tool does
The SAT-GPT supports institutions in:
- Identifying priorities by surfacing what needs improvement first, based on their specific institutional context.
- Improving access, comfort, and safety for women and other underserved groups across the transport system.
- Creating a baseline to track progress over time and inform gender-responsive planning cycles.
The tool is not an audit and does not rank cities or institutions. It is designed for internal learning, reflection, and priority-setting: a starting point, not a finish line.
How it works
The assessment is structured around two user profiles: Transport Service Providers and Mobility Authorities. Users answer a series of questions reflecting on actions and practices within their own institution. Each question has three response options (Yes, Partially, No) generating a score that reflects the institution’s current maturity level across key stages of gender mainstreaming.
Completing the tool takes approximately 10 to 20 minutes, though preparation (gathering relevant institutional information, policies, and data) may require additional time and internal coordination.
To get the most out of the tool, users are encouraged to have:
- A basic understanding of gender inequalities in transport (a Glossary is included in the tool).
- Familiarity with their institution’s structure, roles, and responsibilities.
- Access to relevant institutional data
From methodology to practice
The SAT-GPT is the result of a long-term, collaborative process rooted in feminist transport practice. Its foundations were laid in 2020, when Women in Motion – Mujeres en Movimiento (WIM), together with Hivos and Despacio, developed the methodology Open Contracting for Gender-Sensitive Public Transportation, aimed at identifying gender-sensitive criteria and indicators to support more inclusive public transport systems through open data and improved contracting processes.
The methodology was further developed through applied research and collaboration with cities in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia, deepening the understanding of local institutional dynamics, data gaps, and operational constraints. This process highlighted the importance of translating gender concepts into concrete, actionable guidance for both authorities and service providers.
Who it is for
The SAT-GPT is relevant for:
- Public transport authorities and agencies seeking to embed gender into institutional processes.
- Transport service operators looking to improve safety, inclusivity, and workforce practices.
- Development practitioners and consultants supporting gender mainstreaming in urban mobility projects.
- Researchers and advocates working on feminist transport systems.
Get involved
Has your city or institution used this tool? Sharing your experience helps make feminist transport work visible and strengthens collective learning. Get in touch at .