Better Urban Design Isn’t Enough To Keep Women Safe. We Need Men To Change, Too.

For women, commuting in Indian cities usually means enduring more than just the usual inconveniences of public transit. During a recent survey covering several cities across India, as many as 56% of women said they regularly face sexual harassment on public transport. Autorickshaw drivers are aggressive; male co-passengers on buses and subways grope women commuters; taxi drivers masturbate while ferrying customers; waiting at train and bus stations can leave women vulnerable to abuse. Newspaper reports are rife with incidents of violence against women on the move.