Navigating a bustling city and walking through narrow, poorly lit streets to reach a public transportation station can pose serious safety concerns, especially for women.
In major cities, public transportation is an essential part of daily life, providing an affordable and efficient way to access work, education, and basic services. However, not all commuters experience it equally.
A study on women’s experiences using public transport in Sydney and Melbourne found that women face inequitable safety risks compared to men.
The research explored how women experience harassment and violence on public transport, the precautions they take to avoid such incidents, and what measures could improve their safety.
It revealed that women often bear a “personal safety burden” that limits their mobility and access to opportunities.
Women are more likely than men to anticipate potential exposure to harassment or violence and employ defensive strategies to reduce risk, often reshaping their travel patterns and behaviors in the process.
Five dimensions of women’s safety strategies
The study identified five dimensions that define how women navigate safety on public transport: mental, temporal, emotional, financial, and social.
- Mental: Women mentally prepare for potential danger by visualizing routes and rehearsing how to de-escalate threatening situations.
- Temporal: They often invest additional time in planning safer routes, such as driving to a well-lit train station rather than walking to a closer but isolated bus stop.
- Emotional: Anticipating harassment can cause stress, fear, and even transport avoidance, some women develop a phobia of public transit altogether.
- Financial: Many spend extra money on ride-hailing services like Uber or taxis at night to reduce risk, incurring costs that men may not face.
- Social: Women often alter their behavior to stay safe, leaving social events early, traveling with companions, avoiding alcohol, or choosing clothing that draws less attention.
The study concludes that since public transport vehicles are extensions of public space, they must be managed and regulated like other public environments, such as workplaces or schools.
Public transport providers, therefore, have a duty to ensure women’s safety and promote gender equity within their systems.
Istanbul’s efforts toward safer urban mobility
Like many large cities, Istanbul relies heavily on public transport. The city’s rapid-ride bus system serves over half a million people daily, yet not everyone has equal or safe access to it.
Poor lighting, blocked sidewalks, and a lack of ramps make navigating public spaces difficult for women, older adults, and people with disabilities. Many women report feeling unsafe while waiting for buses or trains, particularly at night.
To address these concerns, WRI Türkiye and its partners, including local governments, civil society organizations, and experts, launched the Sustainable Urban Transport Network (SUTN) in 2020.
The initiative gathered community input and provided microgrants for projects aimed at improving equitable access and safety.
One notable project is in Istanbul’s Maltepe district, which is using its grant to address women’s safety concerns by improving street lighting, expanding sidewalks, and adding green spaces, benches, and even play walls for children.
These upgrades are not just about safety; they also promote inclusivity, accessibility, and urban livability.
Toward safer and more equitable transport systems
The challenges women face when using public transportation underscore the urgent need for gender-sensitive planning and infrastructure.
While women continue to adopt personal safety strategies, long-term change depends on systemic solutions driven by city authorities and transport providers.
Projects like Istanbul’s SUTN demonstrate how collaboration between local governments and communities can lead to safer, more inclusive transport systems.
By addressing the specific safety needs of women and vulnerable groups, cities can create public transportation networks that allow everyone to travel freely, confidently, and without fear.
Sources:
Istanbul Improves Public Transit Access for Women and Other Underserved Groups. (2025, March 13). World Resources Institute. Retrieved from https://www.wri.org/outcomes/istanbul-improves-public-transit-access-women-and-other-underserved-groups
King, J. A., Greer, D. A., Danvers, R. S., & Keating, B. W. (2024). The personal safety burden for women taking public transport in Australia and implications for provision of equitable public transport. Journal of Public Transportation, 27, 100118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubtr.2025.100118
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