Female commuters' mobility in the capital has increased following the launch of metro- rail operations on a single corridor, yet 43 per cent of them still rely on buses and human haulers, known as Tempo and Leguna, due to income constraints, according to a survey.
The Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) unveiled the findings of the survey at a seminar held under its Bus Route Rationalisation and Company-Based Bus Service Operation Project in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The survey, conducted recently among nearly 1,000 working women alongside 4,000 regular male commuters, found that 26 per cent of female commuters depend on non-air-conditioned city buses, while 17 per cent use human haulers for their daily travel between home and workplaces.
Project Director Drubo Alam presented key data showing that around 20 per cent of female commuters now use the metro rail for daily travel, though many cannot afford to use it regularly. And only 8.0 per cent of women use sedan cars or ride-sharing services, suggesting that many avoid public transport to escape hassle and inconvenience once their income increases.
The DTCA organised the seminar titled 'Harassment and sufferings of women in public transport' with support from Bangladesh Nari Sangbadik Kendra (BNSK).
DTCA Executive Director Mohammad Moshiur Rahman presided over the event. Professor Asif-uz-Zaman Khan of Urban and Regional Planning Department, BUET; former executive director of DTCA Neelima Akter and BNSK President Nasimun Ara Haq were present as special guests.
After the introduction of metro rail services, the average travel distance of female commuters has increased to seven kilometres from five kilometers, Drubo Alam said.
Women using the metro rail between Uttara and Motijheel travel an average distance of 11 kilometres, he added.
According to the survey, women earning more than Tk 50,000 per month prefer sedan cars, taxis and ride-sharing services for commuting, while transport expenditure becomes one of their major spending priorities as income rises.
On an average, women spend between 5.0 and 8.0 per cent of their income on transportation depending on income level, Dhrubo said.
At the seminar, Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association President MA Baten and General Secretary Saiful Alam announced plans to establish a call centre to address complaints against bus operators and curb harassment on public transport.
They also stressed the need for government subsidies to ensure sustainable city bus operations, including dedicated bus services for women.
Female commuters representing students, journalists, government and non-government organisations, such as Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation, BRAC, Manusher Jonno Foundation and Shakti Foundation, voiced strong support for both women-friendly public transport and special buses for women on a temporary basis.
They observed that women's mobility has increased across all social groups and should not be restricted within seat quotas or route-based arrangements.
smunima@ yahoo.com