Challenges and barriers for gender-inclusive public transport policies and practice in Delhi, India

Abstract

The importance of gender mainstreaming in transport services has been brought to focus by leading organisations such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. Commonly, women in South and Southeast Asian countries struggle with a public transport system that is not designed for them. National policy makers from these countries typically pick and choose when to follow international guidelines. The present study explores the challenges and barriers for implementation of international guidelines and standards on gender when designing inclusive public transport systems. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with leading national policymakers and transport practitioners to gain an in-depth understanding of current practices in Delhi, India. Discussions with policymakers revealed a significant lack of willingness to consider women as a distinct user group, largely due to a male-dominated sector. Women, when rarely considered, are often categorized within the vulnerable user group. This makes any gender-specific travel requirements absent from policies and guidelines for transport practitioners to implement. Without any adequate gender-inclusive policies and government guidelines, practitioners are hamstringed into designing and implementing services which negates women’s travel needs. Interviews with transport practitioners also revealed major barriers to include funding constraints and poor national data resources. The study concludes with critical gaps in the pipeline from international to national to transport practitioners which prevents gender-specific travel needs from being met for women riding public transport.