Women’s safety on public transport

The solution is straightforward: allowing passengers to alight between stops, as close as possible to their destination, to avoid having to walk through an isolated or poorly lit area.

On the ilévia network, operated by Keolis in the Greater Lille metropolitan area (MEL), this service is available every day from 10 pm until the end of service. Anyone travelling on their own or with children can ask the driver to alight between stops.

The initiative falls within the national plan to combat gender-based harassment and sexual violence. The “alight on request” scheme has a dual objective: to facilitate travel and reinforce the feeling of security by bringing passengers closer to their final destination.

In practice, the request must be made at least one stop in advance. The driver then assesses the safety conditions (stopping area, lighting, pedestrian accessibility) before deciding whether or not to allow the passenger to alight. The passenger exits through the front door, under the driver’s supervision.

The scheme is now in operation on all bus routes running in the evening².

In Dijon, the solution takes the form of a tiny object. On 26 March 2025, an awareness-raising campaign run in partnership with L’Oréal Paris, the Fondation des Femmes, Dijon Métropole and Keolis Dijon Multimodalité showcased a ‘creep-alert’ whistle, which was being trialled within the Keolis group at that time³. The concept: a woman travelling on her own in urban areas or on public transport can immediately blow the whistle to raise the alarm if she feels in danger³.

The whistle is part of a wider scheme. On the DiviaMobilités network, 100% of buses and trams are fitted with CCTV cameras, 230 fixed cameras are installed across the network, and 450 emergency call buttons are available on trams and at stations⁴. In the event of a problem, passengers can also alert the driver or contact the emergency services directly, depending on the situation⁴.

In Pune, the approach is more structural. In this rapidly growing city of nearly 8 million inhabitants, women’s mobility remains constrained by their low representation in the transport sector and in public spaces. In India, their participation in the labour market remains limited, at around 30%, and could take several decades to catch up with that of other G20 countries⁵.

It is in this context that the future metro line 3, operated by Keolis as part of a public-private partnership with a Tata-Siemens consortium, is introducing a groundbreaking initiative. Stretching 23 km, the line will run from the Shivajinagar business district to the Hinjewadi technology hub employing over 150,000 people.

The trains will be driven exclusively by women: around 100 women drivers will be recruited, trained and supported over the long term to ensure their smooth integration, with particular attention paid to their working conditions and safety.

Beyond its symbolic significance, the project aims to address several key areas: opening up access to traditionally male-dominated professions, increasing the presence of women in public spaces, and helping to make transport more inclusive⁶.

Seoul, meanwhile, is taking a system-wide approach. In August 2024, Seoul Metro announced the installation of 595 emergency buttons linked directly to the 112 emergency number in stations on Lines 1 to 8, particularly in women’s toilets, breastfeeding rooms and safe spaces. The system came into service on 1 September: when an alert is received, it triggers an emergency call, displays the location on the CCTV system and activates a flashing light to speed up the response⁸.

The city is also rolling out personal devices. Its “Help Me” alarm keyring, linked to the municipal Ansimi app, triggers an audible alarm and sends a signal to the local monitoring centre. The app can also be configured to send an alert to relatives, with up to five possible contacts⁸. In 2025, the council announced an increase in the number of devices distributed to vulnerable groups from 50,000 to 100,000⁹.

These tools interface with the Ansimi app, which connects users to neighbourhood CCTV control centres. It allows users to request assistance, be monitored remotely whilst travelling, and access a safety map listing local facilities⁸. In March 2025, the city added a live video function, providing real-time footage to the control centre even in streets not covered by cameras. According to the council, the ecosystem now consists of more than 110,000 connected cameras across the city¹⁰.

On a different scale, some French cities are exploring similar approaches, less technology-driven but just as systemic. In Bordeaux, the “Ask for Angela” initiative relies on a network of over 100 partner establishments trained to take in and give help to anyone feeling unsafe. By simply asking “Where’s Angela?”, a discreet chain of support can be activated, based on human presence rather than technology¹¹.