Men and women have contrasting habits when it comes to getting around. On average, men travel 118 km more a week than women. They also use more individual modes of transport such as a car or a bike (about three times more). Women tend to walk more (for 25.8% of their journeys compared to 22% for men) and use public transport more often (10% compared with 7% for men).

These differences are essentially due to specific constraints such as household chores or childcare, which influence their mobility choices.

One of the main obstacles to women’s mobility is the feeling of insecurity, with 38% of women saying they do not feel safe on public transport. Indeed, while the vast majority of physical and sexual attacks are committed in private places, the feeling of insecurity is particularly prevalent in public transport: 8% of those surveyed said they were “afraid in their home” and 21% were afraid of walking around alone “in their neighbourhood”, a number that nearly doubles (38%) for public transport. This feeling of insecurity results in many women changing their travelling habits. The survey shows that 48%of women aged 18 to 24 and 25% of those aged 25 to 34 have already refrained from taking public transport unaccompanied.

And as Keolis considers mobility to be the right above all rights, the one through which all the others become possible - the right to go to school, to work, to seek healthcare or access leisure activities – it is out of the question that women’s mobility be jeopardized. It is simply a matter of equal rights.

Supported by its awareness of the challenges surrounding security on transport, Keolis acts alongside public transport authorities to guarantee safer, more inclusive mobility. This commitment takes shape through technical, material and people-centred solutions that can be used concurrently.

Improving lighting, installing video protection and increasing the accessibility of emergency call interphones all help reinforce security in public areas and on transport networks. Specific notification solutions are also deployed, such as the UMAY app in Lyon on which passengers can share their location with their entourage, or the “Ask for Angela” initiative in Bordeaux which offers immediate support to anyone feeling in danger. In terms of human assistance, Keolis trains its employees in the 5D rule (distract, delegate, document, delay and direct) from the Stand Up programme so that they can respond immediately to cases of harassment.

The Group is also testing solutions designed to meet passenger needs, including alighting on request, which has already become standard practice in Rennes, and exploratory walks, conducted in Lille to identify and improve areas considered unsafe. Outside France, initiatives such as Manchester’s Safer Streets, which combines more staff on the ground and an alert system, have helped bring incident numbers down. 

Because insecurity must not become an obstacle to mobility, Keolis continues to work hard every day to make transport safer and more accessible for everyone.

Visible is the first informative and impact-driven digital media showcasing the contributions of women to the economy, science, politics, culture and society.

¹ Survey conducted in partnership with Nova 7