Bhavna Gourishanker Verma
Mobility and transportation are crucial tools for the exchange of information and resources, broadening services, and connecting economies. Gender mobility is defined as differences in mobility patterns based on gender. These patterns are often dependent on accessible, affordable and available transport, inclusive of the security concerns.
Many reports have suggested women’s reliance on public transport, based on necessity and not choice. With more women stepping out of their homes, it becomes significant to explore global, national and subnational transportation policies with a gender lens. Investing in transport for women directly opens up economic opportunities and increases the role of women in the economy. A thematic note on Gender and Transport by the World Bank highlights the urgent need for gender-inclusive and holistic transport policies.
Lack of transport facilities results in a lack of opportunities in education, health, work, leisure, and more. Inclusive mobility and transportation policies result in making opportunities accessible to all. It is highlighted that the role of transport and women in economic activity is limited in developing countries like India.
Access to public transport affects women’s labour force participation more strongly than men’s. Given restrictive social norms and patriarchy, women are disproportionately burdened with household chores before going outside to earn a living. This leaves them with little time to rest, contributing to time-poverty. With the rise in education and skills, urban Indian women demand better conveyance, and transportation may be a remedy to connect women with the emerging jobs. (Balachandran)
Even in urban and developed city centres, you will get to see that men have their personal vehicles and can easily move from one place to another in very little time. However, women generally do not have this accessibility to having a transport, and even when they do, the gendered stereotypes of women not being good drivers exist. Women are so resilient, despite unsafe environments, lack of proper infrastructure, public toilets, and other facilities, they still choose to participate in the labour economy! This brings us to the central question of this blog: what are governments doing to improve the mobility of women to better participate in the economy? How inclusive are the transportation policies from a woman’s lens?
The time-poverty and the responsibility of household chores lead to women doing trip-chains, which refers to doing multiple chores in a trip with multiple modes of transport. In a policy document, it is clearly mentioned how women bear the burden of bad transport planning, design and infrastructure that is not suited to their needs and does not facilitate their patterns of mobility. These repercussions have a huge impact on women’s ability to access education, health, and employment.
In Vienna, the infrastructural and architectural planning, while revamping the city, encourages more women to participate in the city planning. This led to an increase in the number of ramps, gender-neutral signage, wider footpaths, and better lighting. In Canada, in dark hours, women can ask the drivers to drop them off between stops, leading to enhanced safety measures. Sweden uses gender data to prioritise snow-cleaning from sideways (used more by women), reducing winter pedestrian injuries and costs.
India has also taken many welcoming policy initiatives, such as free bus service for women by Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) in Delhi, and the introduction of women’s women-only coaches in the metros, addressing economic barriers, safety issues faced by women, and increasing their mobility across the cities. In Uttar Pradesh, the free bus service during a festival (Rakshabandhan) led to a 210% increase in women’s ridership. The statistics reveal how significantly the bus services can impact women’s mobility rates. Similarly, other initiatives in the states, such as Surat’s Pink Auto Project, Mumbai’s Ladies Special Trains, are some of the forward-thinking approaches to address gender and transport barriers and enhance inclusivity.
Despite these forward-looking policies, there are ways forward approaches that a government should consider while planning for the 50% of public transport users, i.e. women. These approaches include:
- Rethinking the transport designs during peak hours- to incorporate the needs of women, as they often travel off-peak hours for their care responsibilities
- Well-lit roads and near-exit parkings for women directly enhance the safety of women passengers
- Installing bus stations at shorter distances will help women avoid road injuries
- Gender- responsive urban design (as in Vienna) can address the needs of 50% of the population of the cities!!
- Community reporting and safety helplines- to avoid any kind of harassment in public transport.
These policies not only improve safety and affordability for women and marginalised genders but also increase ridership, boost local economies, reduce emissions, and create more equitable cities. Despite progress, gaps remain in implementation, monitoring, and inclusion of marginalised groups. Making transport gender-responsive is crucial for achieving greater economic participation, social equity, and safer cities.
Transport is not just about moving people from one place to another — it is about enabling access, dignity, and opportunity. Everyone gains when women are at the centre of mobility design because it makes cities safer, more effective, and more welcoming. Because gender responsive transportation is closely related to social justice, economic prosperity, and environmental development, it is not a luxury but rather a necessity. The question is no longer why we need inclusive transport, but how quickly governments and planners can act to make it a reality.
About the contributor: Bhavna Gourishanker Verma holds an M.Sc. in Development Communication and Extension from the University of Delhi, India. She is a fellow of the YWLPPF 3.0 – Young Women Leaders in Public Policy Fellowship, Cohort 3.0.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
Read more at IMPRI:
Skill Vigyan Programme, 2021: Bridging the Biotechnology Skills Gap in India
Passport Seva Project (PSP), 2010: Transforming Passport Services in India
Acknowledgement: This article was posted by Rashmi Kumari, a research intern at IMPRI.
