84% Women Use Public Transport In India: World Bank Report

A new report by the World Bank states that at 84 per cent, women are amongst the biggest users of public transport in India. The report, titled ‘Enabling Gender Responsive Urban Mobility and Public Spaces in India, was compiled to guide Indian cities on how to design and implement public transport systems optimally, especially keeping women’s travelling requirements in mind.

The report also notes that 45.4 per cent of Indian women go to work by foot, while only 27.4 per cent of men do the same. Most women who use public transport are also likely to travel by bus due to affordability. Affordability is also the reason why women opt for slower means of transport, because the faster modes are more expensive. Lack of safety is the other important factor that determines women’s choice of public transport.

Apart from affordability and lack of safety, the factor that impacts women’s presence in public spaces and participation in India’s labour force (which was a meagre 22.8 per cent in 2019-2020) is the lack of an inclusive design. The report states that Indian public transport services are not designed keeping women’s safety in kind, which is often the main reason why women don’t travel to work.

Based on its finding the World Bank has created a toolkit with recommendations that policymakers as well as private- or public-owned transport organisations can use to ensure safe and inclusive public transport for the women of India.

*Image used for representative purpose only.