Delhi, one of the world's largest and fastest-growing cities, is proving that beyond movement, public transport is about justice, inclusion, and empowerment.To commemorate International Women's Day, the SystemShift, a Greenpeace podcast that explores how we can move from a world that serves the economy to an economy that works for people and the planet, launched a new episode with the extraordinary model of Delhi, India, where women are passing from not stepping outside home to using public transport freely.
A turnaround for Delhi's Women
Women's participation in the workforce is low in India, with women representing only a third of the workforce. "There's a very small window where women actually feel entitled to go out in this kind of culture where mobility for women is extremely limited," says Nishant Singh, researcher and member of the Public Transport Forum Delhi, in the latest SystemShift podcast episode.
Since 2019, Delhi's groundbreaking initiative to provide free bus travel for women has transformed lives, increasing employment opportunities for women. The city of Delhi was the first state/UT in India to offer free public bus transport for women across all age groups and social classes.
By 2024, the scheme had issued 100 crore pink tickets, significantly increasing women's bus usage and reducing their transport expenses. As a result, 25% of women who never used buses before now ride regularly, gaining independence and access to jobs, education, and opportunities, with 15% being new regular users, as shown by a recent report by Greenpeace India.
With Delhi projected to become the world's largest city by 2030, its public transport policies have global significance. "When public transport is safe, affordable, and accessible, women can participate more in public life, strengthening both people and economies. The success in Delhi underscores the power of mobility to shift social norms", said Yewande Omotoso, SystemShift podcast host.
"Pink Tax": The hidden cost women pay for public transport
High fares disproportionately affect historically marginalised communities. In Brazil, for instance, research by the ITDP showed that Black, Brown and low-income Brazilians pay higher fares, use more overcrowded buses and trains, and have fewer transport options available to help them reach essential destinations.
Safety on and around public transport remains a significant concern for women and LGBTQIA+ communities, often making travel less accessible and limiting opportunities. Research highlights a clear gender gap in perceived safety: on average, women feel 10% less safe than men when using metro systems and 6% less safe on buses.
In response to safety concerns, many women and LGBTQIA+ individuals choose more expensive travel options, such as taxis or indirect routes, to feel safer. This leads to additional, hidden transport costs. A study from New York University's Rudin Center identified this phenomenon as the 'pink tax'-a financial penalty tied to safety concerns. According to the study, women interviewed spent an average of $26 to $50 more per month than men to travel safely around the city.
Public transport improves gender equality, air quality, and democracy
The Indian capital faces a severe air pollution crisis, with 11.5% of all deaths linked to pollution-around 12,000 lives lost each year. More and more accessible public transport can reduce car usage and emissions, improving air quality and public health.
As results show in the Delhi scheme, free and affordable public transport enables more people to engage with their communities and access opportunities. As Nishant notes, "Democracy will be strengthened. That's something that is usually not part of mobility discussions, but there will be value changes in society."
"Delhi's progress is a powerful reminder: Investing in public transport means investing in women, in democracy, in clean air, and in a just and sustainable future for all. Solutions for Delhi are solutions for every city facing the twin crises of inequality and pollution", concluded Yewande.
What's our role as individuals? What can we do?
Here are some concrete things you can do:
- This text was inspired by the SystemShift podcast, which you can listen to on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or watch on YouTube with multilingual subtitles.
- If you live in India, share your thoughts on public buses. Greenpeace India is on a mission to make public transport smooth, safe, and free, especially for women and transgender individuals.
- Have a look at the Greenpeace Mobility Vision.
- If you live in an area with proposed changes to transport, like a new bicycle lane, or bus stop, be noisy about your support. Very often these changes, even small ones, get knocked down by the opposition.
- Support transport workers when they are struggling for better working conditions and investment in public transport.
