Page 65 - TrafficInfraTech Dec-Jan 2019

MOBILITY

stops; 80% of women felt unsafe while traditional dresses they have to wear.
boarding and alighting the bus. Another research focused on young
This was primarily either due to men and women who would go for a car
insufficient lighting at the bus stops soon after getting a job. The chances of
or due to lack of well-constructed and a young woman or a graduating student
maintained footpaths. It is like jumping buying and using a car in the near future
in and jumping down. Buses seldom stop are much higher in comparison to men.
at stipulated bus stops and are always The preference to buy a car among
seen to stop in the middle of the road. women is higher if they are able to afford
This leads to constant fear among female it, when compared to their preference
commuters of getting hurt or getting hit with respect to unsafe public transport.
by other vehicles on road. The present state of transport
Many of these issues are because system infrastructure development is
of the deficiencies in infrastructure predominantly focusing on the roadways
design. It was also interesting to note infrastructure, road widening, creating
that42%of women travellerspreferred elevated corridors, flyovers, underpasses One the many reasons that
ordinary buses to luxurious ones such etc. It is actually encouraging personal makes the participation
as Volvo buses. Even today, there are mobility, mobility for those who have
upto 33% women travellers who travel access to personal vehicles. And this is of women difficult in the
daily but still feel unsafe. The other where women get disadvantaged due to workforce has been the
facts that we got out from here: 51% their lesser access to a personal vehicle. lack of public conveniences
face eve-teasing at bus stops, almost Since there is a higher dependence
an equal number during travelling and among women on public transport and and public infrastructure
60% of women who face issues still NMT, the chances of health impact on including rental housing
use bus services. So, in spite of feeling women is much higher because of the
unsafe, they continue to travel due to exposure to pollution and risk of fatality and care centres. Amenities
lack of safer and affordable options. due to road traffic accidents for women have to get
In most of the cases, women don’t In terms of research, it is seen that
go and file a complaint to the police. gender inclusive planning and policy integrated in the planning
Twenty percent of them feel there is no is to have correct data. Presently of the city.
guarantee that the complaints would our transport planning and policy is
be addressed. totally focused on commute trips. A Dr Nandita Shah
When we looked at the overall factors large section of women who are non-
influencing women’s perception of being workers or those who have different
safe, we came out with eight different travel requirements (women who work
factors through a factor analysis. These from home or who have trip chaining
include safety at bus stops, lack of safety requirements) are not studied under
while boarding and alighting, feeling these commute trips. Their data is left
unsafe among co-passengers, seating in out while making transport planning and
buses, infrastructure and technological transport improvement programmes.
issues. It was observed that women who The findings of this study on safety
are highly qualified, employed or older of women public transport passengers
feel comfortable with passengers and has led to some proposals like drafting
feel safer while travelling in the public stringent rules for drivers; Rules for
buses. Infrastructure is one of the pivotal recruitment & selection policies and
factors that influence how safe women background check of drivers and
feel. conductors; security alarms at bus
Through a different study, we found stops; uniformly leveled bus stops;
that Indian women are less likely to use destination display systems and
bicycle for commute trips as compared improvement in the condition of the
to Indian men, mainly because of the ordinary buses.

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