Providing Good Health and Physical and Psychological Comfort and Security for Women, Participation of Women in the Transportation System and in Decision–making

Background Information

About 22 years ago, based on complaints received from female passengers, such as being beaten, groped, or pick-pocketed, efforts began to improve security and comfort for women while commuting. In buses and even in taxis, women face sexual harassment and robbery by some male passengers. Today, there are still some problems for women in the usage of the public transportation system. Many women have to stand and it is difficult to keep their balance when the bus is moving.

Goals of the Initiative

Some of the goals of the transportation system in Mashhad are environmental preservation, providing good health and physical and psychological comfort to passengers.

The project aims to offer specific planning for city transportation system particulars (women's concerns, etc.)

Parties and Partners to the Initiative and Resources Used for Implementation

Bus driving organization

•Traffic organization

•Metro                 

•Taxi driving organization

•Taxi company Transportation and Traffic Deputyship of Mashhad Municipality was the leading partners as coordinator of the units related to the public transportation and traffic.

The resources used for implementing the initiative include:

To implement the initiative we were able to use the existing human resources available within public transport to introduce and educate the public of this new initiative.

We were able to implement this project with no extra funds from the government, by using the existing budget of the municipality of Mashhad.

Innovation for the Initiative

The initiative was new and revolutionary and therefore bears a certain height degree of risk. There were cultural, political and social risks. Providing more fields for women to participate in decision-making:

•Women police officers

•Women in traffic control centers, wireless centers of the taxi network, and in training of traffic culture

•Women telephone taxi drivers, school transportation drivers

•Women driving school instructors

The innovation applied in strategy, planning and design. Although in social activities, women and men have equal rights it should be noted that women have a greater need for easy access and physical and psychological comfort because they rely on public transportation much more than men. To achieve the objectives, two steps have been used:

Step 1: Division of buses into two parts and allocation of half of the buses to women exclusively, restricting men from that area. There are separate doors for women on those buses.

Step 2: Playing a major role in the transportation system. On some busy lines, some buses have been allocated for women exclusively, especially for schoolgirls only. Women can use these in addition to regular buses.

•Establishing 24-hour bus services

Allocations of bus seats based on proportion of women and men travelling per day

•Increasing of bus working hours at night for women

In the taxi network, there are about 206 female drivers, and 20 percent of the transport capacity along the busiest lines is allocated for women drivers. Women-only areas are also designated on the metro.

In order to provide a suitable environment for women, that are about half of the population, step 1 from this activity begun over 22 years ago in Mashhad and step 2 was implemented in 2006 and now is being used all around Iran.

Obstacles and Solutions for Innovation

There were some people opposing. We adopted the majority’s opinions and took down what was good for this initiative.

Outcomes and Assessments

Outcomes achieved are as follows:

New urban quality of life,

A peaceful atmosphere from the point of cultural beliefs,

Easy access to transportation for women,

Increased speed in carrying out daily activities for women,

Psychological comfort and security for women.

The scale of change was first regional and then national.

For the first time in Iran:

•Providing more opportunities for women to participate in decision-making

•Participation of women in the transportation system

Assessments are as follows:

Office of Public Relations is doing the measuring and Transportation and Traffic Deputyship of Mashhad Municipality is using the measurements.

According to a survey, over 79 percent of people agree with the plan of allocating a part of buses for women, only 0.83 percent of surveyed people were dissatisfied.

In another survey which consisted of 47 percent women and 53 percent men, over 85 percent of surveyed people were satisfied with the efforts and activities of the taxi company.

Methods Applied

We used new working methods and new educational methods to manage this initiative. For example, we have changed the design of the internal bus for division of buses in two parts, men and women. Also we have allocated special doors in buses for women. We have planned a 24-hour bus service and special bus service for schoolgirls. We have trained female teachers for teaching the culture of traffic to children. We have trained women at the traffic control center. We've employed people who can help women and men learn how to ride the bus.

Benefits to Other Cities

•Women and men have equal rights

•Women have specific privileges in public transportation

•Successful implementation in Mashhad

•Spreading the plan countrywide