Improving the conditions of these transfers is something that technology can change. Daniela Flores, UX researcher at WhereIsMyTransport, mentioned that technology can help provide certainty in terms of travel. For example, data can help women choose better transport routes, where they feel safer and have better mobility options.
Rumbo is the app that collects all the data from WhereIsMyTransport to offer public transport routes but, unlike Google Maps, it has updated data from day to day. For example, it indicates if there is a demonstration that is blocking the route of your truck or if the subway line is failing.
A technological investment in improving infrastructure can help make transfers much faster and safer for users. Flores mentioned that one of the main problems they detected is the waiting time. By not knowing what time the bus will arrive, women remain exposed for longer, increasing their risk.
“Transportation does not reach and the frequencies are not adequately estimated. There is no certainty, updating or precision in the mobility data. Investment is needed in the certainty of transport and technological tools that help to know ”, he mentioned. Investing in security cameras can also improve the situation for women.
mobility apps
The same study showed that, in the Valley of Mexico, 55% of women have experienced situations of sexual harassment on public transport. For this reason, 35% of them considered mobility platforms as one of their options.
Only one in 10 women in the Valley of Mexico would call a taxi on the street, against four out of 10 who would request this service from an application. However, even within platform vehicles, 2% said they have experienced situations of harassment in mobility apps.
Paola Reynoso Cano, Manager of Corporate Communication at inDrive, mentioned: “It is imperative to promote actions that trigger a social conversation and generate changes in behavior regarding the safety of women in transport.”
InDrive, a platform that offers mobility services, presented the “Pact for your safety” campaign, an initiative that aims to provide drivers with tools to identify and avoid inappropriate behavior or comments towards passengers.
Uber has also developed campaigns to prevent harassment inside its vehicles, such as the “Out of Game” campaign.
However, using mobility apps in the face of a lack of security on public transport continues to foster inequality among women. If Karina had to pay for the transfer from her house to her institute in a mobility app, the estimated price per trip would be 210 pesos, compared to the 12 that she spends.
“Mobility is a strategic process where women think about routes to take, schedules, times and safety conditions (…) and technology can give women the confidence to plan a trip,” concluded Flores.