Our cities are in constant motion, fueled by the daily commutes of millions. But for many, especially women, this essential movement can be fraught with challenges. Today, we'd like to introduce you to Aadya Jindal (Grade 12, Mallya Aditi International School), a passionate advocate for equitable and accessible transportation systems.
Aadya has dedicated her efforts to understanding the complex relationship between gender and urban mobility. In the following article, she delves into the specific challenges faced by women when navigating public transportation. She analyzes case studies from across the globe, highlighting successful strategies for creating inclusive and safe transportation networks. Keep reading to explore!
Introduction
Transport is defined as a system or means of conveying people or goods from place to place. We require means of transport in every area of our lives whether it is to go to work, the hospital, school or just for lunch.
Transport can make a big difference in increasing women’s productivity and promoting gender equality. In addition to its major contribution to economic growth, transport plays a crucial role in socially sustainable development by broadening access to health and education services, employment, improving the exchange of information, and promoting social cohesion.
Traditionally employment in the transport sector is very male dominated with there being barely any female cab drivers or bus drivers. In rural areas it is seen that girls tend to have a lower attendance than boys because they are often kept at home to do house work and also because they do not have a way to come to school.
Women usually perform triple roles as income earners, home-makers, and community managers. Sp they end up taking shorter, more frequent and more dispersed trips during the day. Women also frequently carry shopping bulky loads and are accompanied by children or elderly relatives. Existing transport systems are not adequately geared towards the needs of women but are biassed towards the travel needs of men. We need to improve access to convenient modes of transport, the sitting and routing of facilities and infrastructures, and the timing/frequency of services.
Studies also show that women are less likely to work and get a job with less access to transport. Imagine this, a women after doing all the cooking and cleaning of the house wants to go to work but realises that she missed the bus and the next one is in 2 hours which will make her very late. She ends up not going to work because of her transport difficulties.
Many women also do not perceive public transport as safe compared to private transport due to the many violent attacks that have taken place on public vehicles. We need to improve their safety so that they feel comfortable using public transport.
We also see a great difference in transportation systems in developed versus developing countries. In India, a developing country hardly anyone of the higher socioeconomic strata uses public buses while in places like Europe which is developed public transport is very clean and accessible to everyone.
In Karnataka women om the state are eligible to travel for free on non-luxury public transport buses inside Karnataka. Since its June 11 launch, the scheme has clocked an average of around 18 to 19 lakh passengers travelling without charge. This scheme is a good idea in theory to increase the mobility of women as they don’t have to worry about paying the bus fairs but it also leads to the state bleeding money.
Case studies
▶ New York City, USA
56% of the population of New York City uses the public transportation system.
Every $1 billion invested in public transportation capital and operations creates and supports an average of 36,000 jobs.
Problems
Overcrowding: The NYC Subway has long suffered from overcrowding, especially during peak hours. The subway has a daily ridership of approximately 3.2 million and bus has a daily ridership of 1.4 million, representing 58% and 63%, respectively, of pre-pandemic ridership levels.
Aging Infrastructure: Much of the subway's infrastructure, including signals and tracks, is outdated and in need of modernization.
Delays and Reliability Issues: Frequent delays and reliability issues due to maintenance needs and signal failures.
Solutions implemented
Modernization Projects: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) initiated the Fast Forward plan, aiming to modernise signals, replace old tracks, and improve station accessibility.
Expansion Projects: The Second Avenue Subway was introduced to reduce congestion on the Lexington Avenue Line, one of the busiest in the system.
Operational Improvements: Implementing a new contactless fare payment system (OMNY) to streamline entry and reduce congestion at turnstiles.
▶ Curitiba, Brazil
The bus system carries about 2 million people per day. Development costs have been estimated at $1.5 million (U.S. dollars) per kilometre. About 70% of Curitiba’s commuters use the bus system even though Curitiba’s automobile ownership and per capita incomes are significantly higher than the national average for Brazil. There is a passenger demand of 1.9–2.1 million trips per day.
Problems
High Demand: Rapidly increasing demand outpacing system capacity.
Limited Infrastructure: Limited infrastructure to support the growing urban population.
Economic Constraints: Financial constraints limiting the ability to expand and modernise the system.
Solutions implemented
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): Curitiba pioneered the BRT system, which has been highly successful in managing urban transit efficiently and cost-effectively.
Land Use Planning: Integrated land use planning with transit-oriented development to ensure sustainable urban growth.
Incremental Improvements: Focused on incremental and continuous improvements rather than large-scale projects.
▶ Bangalore, India
At present, Bengaluru witnesses 10 million trips (including public and private transport) per day, which will reach 23 million by 2031.
In financial year 2021, less than one million passengers rode buses in Bengaluru daily, a drastic decrease from around 3.3 million passengers the previous year. It was mainly due to the impact of coronavirus pandemic. In financial year 2015, the daily ridership of buses in the city reached the peak around 5.3 million passengers. The introduction of the metro in 2011 further deceased the ridership of city buses.
General Issues in Bangalore’s Transportation System
Overcrowding and Limited Reach: The public transportation system, including buses and the Namma Metro, often experiences overcrowding, particularly during peak hours. Limited reach of the metro and inconsistent bus services in many areas lead to people relying on more expensive modes of transport like autos or cabs.
Safety Concerns: Public transportation is often unsafe, especially during early mornings and late nights. Incidents of harassment and theft are not uncommon, making travel scary for many commuters especially females.
Traffic Congestion: Bangalore is famous for its traffic jams, which result in long commute times and unpredictability. Poor road infrastructure and inadequate public transportation alternatives only increase the congestion.
Specific Impact on Women
Safety and Security:
Harassment and Violence: Women face higher risks of harassment and violence in crowded buses and at poorly lit bus stops and metro stations.
Fear of Crime: The fear of crime restricts women’s mobility, especially during non-peak hours when fewer people are around, making them vulnerable targets and scared to use public transport.
Accessibility and Convenience:
Limited Travel Options: Women often have to juggle multiple roles like working, being a mom, etc so they require flexible and reliable transportation options. The current system’s inefficiencies and limited reach is a problem for them.
Connectivity: Women may find the connectivity issue particularly challenging, as it often involves walking through poorly lit or deserted areas, increasing the risk of harassment.
Economic Impact:
Higher Costs: Women, especially those from lower-income groups, may have to spend a larger portion of their income on safer but more expensive transportation options like cabs or autos.
Employment Opportunities: Lack of reliable transportation can limit women’s employment opportunities, particularly for jobs that require odd hours or are located in less accessible areas and this reduces their independence and financial stability
Comparative Impact on Men
Safety: Men generally face fewer safety concerns compared to women, both in terms of harassment and fear of crime.
Economic Mobility: Men might have more flexibility in terms of working hours and locations, given the cultural and societal norms, reducing the negative effects of limited transportation options.
Accessibility: Men are generally more willing to use less safe but faster modes of transport (e.g motorbikes), which can navigate traffic more efficiently.
Addressing the Issue
Safety Measures:
Improved Lighting: Ensuring all bus stops and metro stations are well-lit.
Surveillance: Installing more CCTV cameras and ensuring regular monitoring.
Women-Only Options: Expanding women-only compartments and bus services, particularly during peak hours.
Expanding and Improving Public Transport:
Metro Expansion: expanding the metro network to cover more areas of the city.
Bus Services: Increasing the frequency and reliability of bus services.
Policy and Infrastructure:
Infrastructure Development: Improving road infrastructure to ease traffic congestion and reduce commute times.
Public Awareness Campaigns: Conducting campaigns to raise awareness about respecting women’s space in public transport and reporting harassment.
Free Travel for Women
The Karnataka Shakti Scheme is the flagship scheme of the Government of Karnataka which was launched in the year 2023. The main objective behind launching the Shakti Scheme is to empower women financially by providing them with free of cost bus service.
Under the Karnataka Shakti Scheme, Free of Cost Bus Ride across Karnataka will be provided to all women beneficiaries of Karnataka State.
Women Beneficiary can travel anywhere from one place to another, there is no minimum kilometer limit applicable.
Zero Sum Tickets will be provided to women beneficiaries at the time of traveling.
It is estimated that more than 41 lakh women will get benefits under Karnataka Shakti Scheme.
The free bus travel scheme for women will likely cost the state government nearly Rs 4,300 crore in the current fiscal year, over 40 percent more than the budget estimate of Rs 2,800 crore, a well-placed source in the government said. This scheme has benefited over 155 crore women so far.
Benefits of Scheme
Free of Cost Bus Service across Karnataka.
No Ticket Amount will be Charged from Women Beneficiaries traveling in Government of Karnataka Buses.
Only Government Run Buses will provide Free of Cost Bus Services to Women of Karnataka.
Karnataka Shakti Scheme Benefits.
Conclusion
Improving Bangalore's transportation system is crucial for enhancing the quality of life for all residents, but special attention needs to be given to the unique challenges faced by women. By implementing targeted measures to improve safety, accessibility, and reliability, Bangalore can create a more equitable and efficient transportation network that supports the needs of its diverse population.
Through her insightful research and passionate advocacy, Aadya is working to ensure that our cities become truly accessible for all. Be like Aadya, start your changemaking journey!
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