The Crucial Role of Urban Mobility in Women's Safety
Urban mobility is an essential aspect of modern-day society. It connects people to work, education, and leisure activities. However, for women, urban mobility can be a daunting experience due to safety concerns. According to a survey conducted by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, New Delhi, Cairo, and Karachi are the three most dangerous cities for women to live in.
The current state of women's safety in urban areas is still a cause for concern. According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization, up to 35% of women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence. Women's safety concerns in urban areas range from sexual harassment to rape. These concerns can have a significant impact on women's mobility and their ability to participate in social and economic activities.
It’s clear there is a need for mobility designers to address these concerns and ensure the safety of all passengers, particularly women.
THE ROLE OF MOBILITY DESIGNERS IN ADDRESSING SAFETY CONCERNS.
When it comes to mobility, it is important to consider the user experience, the vehicle, and the environment in order to find an optimal balance. Neglecting any one of these factors is not a viable option, which is why mobility design requires a transdisciplinary approach that prioritizes safety in every aspect.
Holistic mobility designers thus play an essential role in creating safe and secure mobility solutions. Mobjects by Granstudio is an example of an urban mobility concept that focuses on all these aspects and in that way creates a safe and seamless moving experience.
INTRODUCING MOBJECTS BY GRANSTUDIO AND ITS SAFETY FEATURES.
Mobjects offer a smooth urban transportation experience: at any pace between strolling and running, you can fluently hop-on and hop off when the distance gets too far to walk, but too short to use another vehicle. Among other uses, this service is particularly helpful for cities with areas that may become deserted at night - think pedestrian streets after closing time, where traditional taxis often are not allowed to operate - causing safety concerns for pedestrians.
Mobjects’ design is based on flexibility, modularity, and sustainability principles. Their safety features include an active "Cyclops Eye," which includes surveillance technologies for the cabin and its direct environment, and offers even the possibility to put you in contact with an operator or the authorities in case of an emergency.
Mobjects also have various passive methods to enhance the safety of pedestrians.
These autonomous shared EVs blend the capacities of a vehicle with the benefits of public furniture and blur the boundaries between both. In fact, at first glance, Mobjects do not appear to be vehicles, as they become part of their environment rather than imposing themselves upon it.
Image source: theculturetrip.com
OTHER SUCCESSFUL URBAN MOBILITY DESIGNS FOR WOMEN'S SAFETY.
Several cities around the world have implemented successful urban mobility designs that prioritize women's safety. For example, in Mexico City, the government launched a program called "Mujeres en Bici" (Women on Bikes), which aimed to encourage women to use bicycles as a mode of transportation.
The program included the installation of bicycle lanes, bike-sharing stations, and workshops to teach women how to ride bikes safely. In Delhi, India, the government launched a women-only bus service called "Safetipin," which features GPS tracking, CCTV cameras, and emergency buttons.
THE FUTURE OF URBAN MOBILITY AND ITS IMPACT ON WOMEN'S SAFETY.
The future of urban mobility is likely to be shaped by multimodal technological advancements such as autonomous vehicles, ride-sharing services, and e-mobility. Autonomous vehicles in particular offer a promising solution to address the high cost of a private taxi driver when chosen over traditional public transport for safety concerns. By reducing these costs, autonomous vehicles will help eliminate the so-called "pink tax" and make safe transportation more affordable for women. Moreover, they will also make travel more efficient by reducing waiting times, particularly at night.
It speaks for itself that offering good alternatives is not a substitute for addressing the root problems and designing excellent safe public transport systems. Their evolution towards a safer option is potentially also to be shaped by technological innovations such as artificial intelligence, big data, and the Internet of Things.
For example, artificial intelligence can be used to analyze data and identify patterns of criminal behavior. Big data can be used to track passenger movements and detect any suspicious activities. The Internet of Things can be used to create a seamless and interconnected transportation system.
WHY WE BOTHER WITH WOMEN’S SAFETY
The issue of women's safety in urban mobility is a multifaceted issue that requires a comprehensive understanding of the factors that contribute to it. When designing mobility systems for more livable cities, it is important to ensure that everyone can move around the city safely and confidently.
