SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN URBAN TRANSPORT Addressing the Gender Bias Himani Jain (Ph.D.) Principal Consultant P4Planning Consultants
Gendered Cities Distinguishes socially constructed roles determined from being male or female Cities are not gender neutral Woman is not a universal category (varies by income, religion, region, age, class, ethnicity, )
Woman Strong link Shelter-transport -livelihood Higher informal sector participation OR Restricted access to streets, bazaars, better prospects (Anandand Tiwari, 2006; Srinivas, 2008; Deike, 2002) Woman are transport poor Have inferior access to private means of transport Also difficult access to public transport
Woman on city streets Larger cities report higher rate of crimes Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad amongst highest 90% women have faced some kind of harassment 65% had faced 2-5 incidents in last year Incidents are evenly spread over day, night, near office, near home streets, public transport, etc. (NCRB, 2008-12; Vishwanath, 2013; Phadke et al., 2011)
Gender Issues in Transport 70% of women are harassed by the roadside 50% inside public transport 42% while waiting for transport Women and Public Space Postcards, Mumbai, India 54% women and 69% men who witness an incident of harassment prefer to stay uninvolved. Image source: PUKAR Gender and Space Project (study by Jagori and United Nations Women, 2010)
By law The Constitution of India guarantees Equality to all Indian women (Article 14) No discrimination by State (Article 15 (1)) Equality of opportunity (Article 16) Equal pay of work (Article 39 (d)) Special provisions to be made by State in favour of women for securing just and humane conditions of work. (Article 42)
Women vs. Man More women than men are - have no mode of transport available at all and walk, dependent on public transport. less likely to have access to motorized means of transport. less likely to use bicycles dependent on informal services and door-to-door transport provision. waiting times and average total journey time is 10 to 25% greater.
Needs of Woman Makes more trips related with caretaking (child care and elder care) and household responsibilities Higher share of household s travel burden and the costs in both time and money are higher
Woman and Travel Trip chaining is common Women make more frequent trips Women travel shorter distances but walk longer distances
Woman and transport Woman gain access to older vehicles, such as bicycles and motorcycles. Women tend to choose - door to door service that can reduce walk trip (bicycles, cycle rickshaws, auto rickshaws, etc.) which are accessible easily, less crowded, cheaper in short distance (e-rickshaws, grameen sewa, etc.).
Women and Modes Walking is predominant mode of travel for low income women Inferior access and higher concerns for safe riding environment lesser cycling Mostly dependent on public transport or IPT for long distance Walking Cycling or IPT (rickshaws, auto, e-rickshaws, feeder, etc.) Public transport (buses, etc.)
Solution.. 1. A gendered approach vs. the traditional genderneutral position. 2. Gender sensitive urban transport parameters and audit- Gendered innovations 1 in transportation aspects Gendered innovations 2 in urban planning and design
Gendered Innovations 1. Urban transport design and implementation "Mobility of care", data collection variables Understanding gender differences -"trip chaining". Gathering data disaggregated by sex 2. City planning and urban design and implementation Integrating gender expertise into urban planning and neighbourhood design Gender-aware street and public space design (http://genderedinnovations.stanford.edu/casestudies/transportation.html#transport-conclusions European Commission, 2007)
1. Policy Approach Swedish transportation policy and institutions objectives for 2010 call for atransportation system [that] is gender-equal... The City of Malmö developed the public transport integrating gender equality -public consultations, review of design and system, service scheduling, feedback etc. Clarity in NUTP, more women in transport planning, design, administration, construction, operations and monitoring/control.
2. Physical Design Approach Between two stops service Montréal Québec, Canada Removing steps from streets to platforms for baby carriages, luggage, wheelchairs. Step-free level access to trains, subways, and buses from platforms. Lively, active, well lit, footpaths and bus stops Safe and secure, last mile connectivity with attractive feeder systems Metro and BRT systems in many Indian cities (Transport for London, 2007; Montréal Québec, 2010; Sánchez de Madariaga, 2013)
3. Personal Security approach TfLand Toronto Transit Commission best practices Women only sections or seats in buses or women only buses / coaches Wide aisle gate access, enough leg room, storage, buggy space, etc. Adequate lighting, CCTV and panic button Women drivers, conductors and police staff Desired vehicle design, interiors, technology of IPT and PT vehicles
4. Sensitization Approach JAGORI and Auto-rickshaw drivers Union JAGORI and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) Delhi Metro campaigns its pink coaches exclusively for women Fazilka ECO-CAB (dial a rickshaw) Janmaarg BRT, Ahmedabad Alwar Vahini
5. Urban planning Approach 2002 - Vienna designated Mariahilf district, a gender mainstreaming pilot district. The European Union prioritized gender mainstreaming in 1996 and funded 60 networked projects. New cities and or newly planned areas in cities require more inclusivity Dwarka, Gandhinagar, Bhubaneshwar, Naya Raipur (Bauer, 2009; Kailet al., 2006 & 2007; Horelliet al., 2000; Roberts, 2013; European Union, 1995).
6. Design Approach CheonggyecheonRestoration Project, Seoul, 2005 Suwon, South Korea, 2012 old city rejuvenation Central European Urban Spaces (UrbSpace) project, focused on renovations of open urban spaces, such as public parks and squares. Mixed land use, narrower streets with wider footpath facilities Eyes on streets -Integration of informal sector on street-sides; zero building setback, transparent frontage, lighting, etc. (Rebstock et al., 2011; Gauthier et al., 2007.).
THANK YOU For details please contact: Himani Jain Principal Consultant himani@p4planning.com
Discussions Gendered approach Best practices in Indian context Ways to upscale best practices Key actors, barriers, institutional, policy or legal challenges in implementing best practices