{"id":73297,"date":"2025-03-12T02:45:03","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T01:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/?p=73297"},"modified":"2025-06-26T08:36:10","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T06:36:10","slug":"a-seat-at-the-table-remains-unoccupied-without-a-seat-on-the-bus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/story\/73297\/a-seat-at-the-table-remains-unoccupied-without-a-seat-on-the-bus\/","title":{"rendered":"A seat at the table remains unoccupied without a seat on the bus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The phrase \u201ca seat at the table\u201d is a powerful metaphor for influence, voice, and decision-making. But before we can take our place in boardrooms, legislative chambers, and workplaces, we need to get there\u2014safely, affordably, and without barriers. The journey to empowerment, leadership, and economic independence begins in public spaces, on buses, and in metros\u2014places that should enable freedom, not restrict it.<\/p>\n\n

International Women\u2019s Day was born out of radical movements<\/a> for labour rights, suffrage, and systemic change. It was never meant to be about pink-washed advertisements or social media posts. Yet, that\u2019s what it has become\u2014a day when brands, corporations, and even those around us embrace shallow empowerment narratives while ignoring the systemic inequalities we’ve all been conditioned to accept.<\/p>\n\n

This Women\u2019s Day, we\u2019re deconstructing mobility as a feminist right. Public transportation isn\u2019t just about getting from point A to point B. It\u2019s about mobility in every sense of the word\u2014economic, social, and political. Mobility is a function of access, and <\/strong>access has never been equal.<\/p>\n\n

\"Portraits
Kajal Mishra, a 24-year-old resident of Faridabad, lives and works in her neighborhood city in Delhi. Every weekend, she embarks on a journey to Delhi for her theater classes and practice sessions, but her experiences on these bus trips have been far from easy. As a woman with a disability, she faces numerous challenges along the way.\nOne of the most pressing issues Kajal encounters is the overcrowding of buses, which not only makes her travel uncomfortable but also unsafe. She has been subjected to unwarranted flirtation and even molestation during these journeys, which is both distressing and alarming.\nMoreover, Kajal highlights the lack of accessibility on public buses for people with disabilities. She may not require specific equipment herself, but she has observed the struggles of others with disabilities who attempt to board the buses. They receive no assistance from fellow passengers or bus staff, who often display impatience or hostility.\nKajal advocates for change, suggesting that improved provisions for people with disabilities on buses, as well as better-trained and empathetic bus staff, are essential. She also believes that the introduction of women-only buses and specialized buses for people with disabilities could significantly enhance the safety and comfort of these journeys.\nKajal’s experiences shed light on the pressing need for a more inclusive and accommodating public transportation system in Delhi, where everyone, regardless of their gender or disability, can travel without fear or difficulty.<\/figcaption>
\u00a9 Vinit Gupta \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

When our urban planning and public transport systems have been historically designed<\/a> with the commuting patterns of upper-caste, able-bodied men and the rich in mind, they choose to exclude women, trans people, and marginalised communities. This is not just about comfort or convenience; it’s about rights, access, and equity.<\/p>\n\n

From poorly lit bus stops to overcrowded public transport, from inadequate first and last-mile connectivity to the looming threat of harassment, these are not just inconveniences but barriers. They limit our participation in the workforce, in education, in public life. They tell us where we can go, and by extension, where we cannot. <\/p>\n\n

\"Portraits
A story of Shweta Raj, a woman communter in Delhi.\nI have always preferred public transport for my travels. Even in Delhi, Delhi Transport Corporation buses have become my companion more than the metro. There is a reason for this also. The connectivity of buses is still bigger than the metro network. Besides, traveling by bus is also less expensive. However, not everything is good in the experience of traveling by bus. For example, it is a common thing for men to sexually harass women in the bus on the pretext of the crowding. Often these incidents of sexual harassment are brushed aside by calling them ‘minor molestation. Traveling by bus in the morning and evening is like fighting a war. While boarding the bus, you have to protect your mobile, purse as well as your body. However, now I am learning to deal with this problem. Apart from teasing, incidents of insulting women have also increased ever since the bus became free for women. Sometimes the driver does not stop after seeing women at the bus stop. Sometimes a male passenger is sitting on a female seat and when asked for a seat, he says: \u2018I also want to travel for free\u2019.<\/figcaption>
\u00a9 Vinit Gupta \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
\"Portraits
A story of Vandana a woman commuter in Delhi.\nVandana, a 25-year-old social worker, passionately serves the garbage collector community in Seemapuri, Delhi. Her daily journey to Seemapuri from her residence in Khichripur village via the DTC bus is an arduous yet essential part of her routine.\nThe overcrowded buses are a common sight, making her daily commute uncomfortable. Waiting for more than half an hour for a bus is not unusual, and there are times when the bus doesn’t even stop at the stand. However, Vandana perseveres because she cannot afford auto or cab services. Fortunately, Delhi’s free bus services for women make her daily commute possible, enabling her to reach her office and conduct fieldwork.\nVandana believes that if more women were employed as bus drivers and ticket collectors, the journey would be safer and more efficient. This change could greatly improve the commuting experience for women like her, who rely on public transportation to serve their communities while facing the challenges of overcrowded buses and long waits.<\/figcaption>
\u00a9 Vinit Gupta \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Reclaiming Public Spaces\u2014Taking Over the City<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

In October 2024, we took to the streets of Mumbai and spoke to the women navigating a city that promises upward mobility but systematically denies it to those who need it most. Like most cities in the country, Mumbai\u2019s public spaces are not neutral\u2014they are shaped by caste, class, and gendered privilege. Women in Mumbai spend 21% more<\/a> on transportation than men just to feel safe, exposing the stark gendered economic burden of mobility. Yet, even after paying this \u2018pink tax,<\/a>\u2019 only 35%<\/a> of women feel safe accessing metro stations. This is not just a failure of infrastructure\u2014it\u2019s a deliberate exclusion from the city itself.<\/p>\n\n

But women are reclaiming space. In Delhi, the Pink Ticket scheme<\/a>, and in Karnataka, the Shakti Scheme<\/a>, have proven that equitable policies can challenge the status quo<\/a>. When women occupy buses, trains, and stations in greater numbers, they don\u2019t just reach their destinations\u2014they shift the dynamics of public space itself. More women in public means safer streets, stronger communities, and a challenge to the deeply entrenched norms that dictate who gets to move freely.<\/p>\n\n

Yet, fare-free transport policies for women have often been framed as an unfair advantage despite studies consistently showing that families in India spend less on girls than on boys, not just in education<\/a>, healthcare<\/a> and nutrition<\/a> but also on transport. For many, travel is an economic hurdle. <\/em><\/p>\n\n

Women\u2019s mobility patterns are more intricate<\/a>\u2014they often travel shorter distances but make multiple stops for (unpaid) caregiving, household errands, and work. Yet, public transportation is not designed for these realities. When women stop using public transport because of high costs, it\u2019s not just their independence that suffers\u2014it\u2019s the economy. Women who cannot afford to commute don\u2019t work. They don\u2019t study. They don\u2019t participate in public life. And that lost participation translates to lost wages, lost productivity, and lost economic growth. But access to mobility alone is not enough. Increased ridership must be met with political commitment\u2014better infrastructure, frequent buses, and real safety measures that go beyond tokenism. <\/strong>Gender sensitisation<\/a> is the bare minimum. It is not just about mobility\u2014it is about power, autonomy, and the right to exist freely in the cities we helped build.<\/p>\n\n

\"Drishti
Drishti and Prapti Elizabeth take over iconic spots in Mumbai, demanding affordable and efficient mobility for all. The demand for fare-free transport for women and trans people was put in front of political parties ahead of the November 2024 Maharashtra state elections as part of our mobility campaigns.
\u00a9 Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Mobility for People, Sustainability for the Planet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

We need cities that move with women, not against them. When we design public transportation with everyone in mind, we incentivise its utilisation by all.<\/p>\n\n

Shifting more people from private vehicles to public transportation reduces carbon emissions, decongests roads, and improves air quality. And when public transportation is accessible and inclusive, it becomes a powerful tool for climate justice.<\/p>\n\n

Our vision isn\u2019t just about making public transport accessible and affordable\u2014it\u2019s about reimagining our cities. It\u2019s about feminist urban planning that caters to the needs of all: women, trans people, the working class, people with disabilities, the elderly, students, and the planet. <\/p>\n\n

\"Residents \u00a9 Greenpeace<\/div>” class=”wp-image-73415″\/>
Residents of Sunder Nagri, New Delhi, paint a graffiti reading \u2018Hamari Bus, Hamara Haq\u2019 (Our Bus, Our Right). Located on the city’s periphery, Sunder Nagri is often ignored in urban policy, limiting residents’ ability to fully participate in and contribute to the city.
\u00a9 Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Let\u2019s question why access to safe and affordable public transport is normalised as a luxury rather than a right and a basic service for the people. Why aren\u2019t there enough buses? Why are streets unsafe? Why are cities designed for car owners instead of public transport users? Let us recognise that a truly inclusive society isn\u2019t one where women and other minorities are merely present\u2014it\u2019s one where they can participate, contribute, and lead.<\/p>\n\n

A feminist reality isn\u2019t just about who gets a seat at the table. It asks who gets to reach there\u2014who gets to move freely, without fear, without limits, and with agency. And it fights for the ones who can\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n

Empty (they\/them) is a Communications Consultant with Greenpeace South Asia\/India. They are a writer and researcher focusing on the intersections of climate and social justice. They write on queer and gender politics as well.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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