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General Overview

Type of stakeholder

EICS Framework

Region of Reference

Africa
Asia
Australia
Europe
North-America
South-America
World

Description

Overcrowding and a lack of well-demarcated boundaries between passengers on public transport vehicles can increase the likelihood of sexual harassment [4].

This intervention refers to the introduction of a requirement that all public and informal paratransit vehicles must have individual demarcated seats for each passenger, rather than bench seating without any form of visual or tactile barrier.

Facts/Illustrations/Case studies

According to research conducted in New Zealand, passengers on trains with long sideways facing bench seats prefer to stand than to sit directly next to other passengers already seated on the bench2. In addition, a large number of passengers were also found to change seats during a journey, especially when sitting on a bench next to another passenger. Stress levels were also reportedly higher when passengers were seated in very close proximity. The study concludes that demarcating seats with visual or tactile markers can help to reduce social discomfort. Individual seating on a bus (source: https://www.raillynews.com/2019/05/Special-seats-for-private-passengers-on-ego-buses/)

Types of Impact

To/from the stop/station/rank✕
Waiting for train/bus/paratransit✕
In the vehicle✓
At interchanges✕

This intervention only targets the portion of travel on board the vehicle.

Day-time travel✓
Night-time travel✓
Peak-time travel✓
Off peak-time travel✓

All travel time categories could be positively impacted by this intervention.

Bus✓
Train✓
Rideshare✓
4 wheelers informal✓
3 wheelers informal✓
2 wheelers informal✕
Cycling✕
Walking✕

Only motorized modes of transport are impacted by this intervention. This intervention does not apply to informal two-wheelers.

Girls✓
Boys✓
Adult Women✓
Men✓
Elderly Women✓
LGBTQI+✓

All public transport users will be positively impacted by this intervention.

Resources

Monetary Resource Requirements
Full-scale implementation could potentially be costly, depending on how vehicles are configured at present, and whether vehicles can be reconfigured within manufacturers' specifications (in compliance with seat load testing criteria). A phased approach requiring all newly licensed vehicles to comply would be simpler and more cost-effective.
Capital Cost Requirements Operational Cost Requirements
Non-Monetary Resource Requirements
Strong political will would be required for full or even targeted implementation since such requirements would increase the cost to operators who do not already have individual seating installed. In addition, it is likely that phased implementation would be required, to allow operators to continue running vehicles that do not have individual seating either until they replace their vehicles, or until a suitable retrofit solution becomes available. A trained technician is required in order to replace seats, however, it is a relatively simple task, since only seats designed for the specific model of vehicle can be installed, reducing the potential for complicated installation procedures.
Skills Time Political Will

SWOT Analysis

Clearer boundaries between occupants can help reduce the likelihood of inappropriate touching

Individual seating may not be available for vehicle models currently in service

Helps to prevent vehicle overloading

Operators may not be willing to pay more for vehicles with Individual seating
Can reduce the number of occupants a vehicle can accommodate, diminishing buy-in from operators

Effectiveness

Overcrowding on public transport increases the likelihood of sexual harassment [1]. Individual seating can help to reduce the potential for overcrowding.

Perception by (female) passengers
Perception by governing bodies
Level of confidence in these ratings

Implementation

Phased implementation is recommended, whereby only newly licensed vehicles must comply, to allow existing vehicles to remain in service until the end of their lifecycle.

Implementation timeframe

0-1 year✓
1-3 years✓
>3 years✓

Timeframe to realise benefits

0-1 year✓
1-3 years✓
>3 years✓

Scale of Implementation

This intervention can be implemented from the city level up.

National

Regional

City

Station or
Suburb

Ease of Implementation

Ease of implementation is dependent on whether vehicle models typically chosen by operators are compatible with individual seating and whether transport operators are willing to retrofit their vehicles.

List of References

Asia

1. https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/overcrowded-public-transport-makes-women-vulnerable-to-harassment/story-4rT3ZGC9ZBI4v2bt4tn41N.html

Australia

2. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/41336442.pdf

Europe

3. Cox, T., Houdmont, J., & Griffiths, A. (2006). Rail passenger crowding, stress, health and safety in Britain. Transportation Research Part A, 40, 244– 258.

World

4. https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/42f9b567-ac8f-4f43-b07d-e85165f248b7/SectorBrief_AddressingGBVH_Transport_July2020.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=nddoZh0

5. Altman, I., & Vinsel, A.M. (1977). Personal space: An analysis of E.T. Hall’s proxemics framework. In I. Altman & J.P. Wohlwill (Eds.), Human Behavior and Environment: Advances in Theory and Research, Volume 2. Plenum Press: New York.

6. Andersen, P.A., & Liebowitz, K. (1978). Development and nature of the construct touch avoidance, Environmental Psychology and Nonverbal Behavior, 3, 89-106.

7. Evans, G.W., & Wener, R.E. (2007). Crowding and personal space invasion on the train: Please don’t make me sit in the middle. Journal of Environmental Psychology 27 , 90–94.

8. Hai, D.M., Khairullah, Z.Y., Coulmas, N. (1982). Sex and the single armrest: Use of personal space during air travel. Psychological Reports, 51 (3), 743-749.

9. Han, S.H., Jung, E.S., Jung, M., Kwahk, J., & Park, S. (1998). Psychophysical methods and passenger preferences of interior designs. Applied Ergonomics, 29 (6), 499-506.

10. Nicosia, G.J., Hyman, D., Karlin, R.A., Epstein, Y.M., & Aiello, J.R. (1979). Effects of bodily contact on reactions to crowding. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 9 (6), 508-523.

11. Remland, M.S., Jones, T.S., & Brinkman, H. (1995). Interpersonal distance, body orientation, and touch: Effects of culture, gender, and age. The Journal of Social Psychology, 135 (3), 281-297.

12. Stradling, S., Carreno, M., Rye, T., & Noble, A. (2007). Passenger perceptions and the ideal urban bus journey experience. Transport Policy, 14, 283-292.

13. Tripathi, N. (2002). Seating preference and seat placement as indicators of privacy preference. Psychological Studies, 47 (1-3), 129-138.

SHE CAN Tool