Breathe
By Ana Itzel Hernández Ramírez
In a world marked by profound inequalities, where strong measures are demanded to address social injustices, it is women who experience these impacts most acutely. In this context, urban mobility represents a key element that can both mitigate and deepen these disparities, especially in the case of women. Therefore, it is necessary to consider alternatives with a high social impact, such as free public transportation.
Although the idea of offering free public transportation is not new, few initiatives have adopted a gender approach that specifically recognizes the needs and dynamics of women, who make up almost half of the population. Among these needs, caregiving mobility stands out. Historically, caregiving tasks have fallen on women, complicating their displacement patterns which have been less addressed by public policies. This underscores the need for solutions that not only facilitate women's mobility, but are also operational and financially viable.
In Mexico City, for example, women make up 52% of the population and face mobility challenges that deepen their conditions of inequality. Lower socioeconomic levels often translate into longer commuting times, limiting access to opportunities and deepening existing gaps. It is essential to understand how women move in order to identify the best way to benefit them, especially in their caregiving dynamics. Despite the challenges for its analysis, it is possible to identify clear trends; for example, 47% of non-mass transit trips are made by women between 11 and 12 a.m., a period typically associated with caregiving activities.
