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[raniroo]

Dubai has launched the first female-only bus service in the Emirates from 10 April 2009 to service the demand of female passengers travelling to/from work.

Timeout Article

Please note: That there are already lady taxies and lady bank queues operating in the Emirates

[starlagurl]

Oh no... Were bad things happening like on the Tokyo subways? Or is it because they think bad things will happen?

[aopaq]

I think this is great since I have seen segregated buses in Iran and understand how it can disadvantage female commuters. In some ways this represents the ultimate in segregation but if it helps women get home faster and easier, then I think it's a good idea.

I personally don't favour a segregated society but in the event that occurs, if there is any way to help make lives easier for both women and men, why not?

[raniroo]

It's not a safety thing it is more a cultural issue. Of course all the other buses are mixed, but I think it is because of the increase of local woman working

[starlagurl]

I don't know...why should women get home faster than men? Who says they're going home after work anyway?

[aopaq]

I don't know...why should women get home faster than men? Who says they're going home after work anyway?

From what I remember in the article, one of the problems was that the buses were not necessarily stopping for women because the men standing blocked the driver from seeing that there were still actually empty seats in the women's section of the bus? Isn't that right? And if these buses are like the ones I have been on, the women's section is also likely much smaller than those for the men.

[raniroo]

You also have to remember that in a western society it is normal to mix, but many covered woman who believe in equal rights and all that still feel comfortable being segregated from the men (in buses, queues, crowds etc)

I am not just talking about local men. There is a huge problem in Dubai with the construction workers and labourers from the Indian continent. They consistantly eye you off and makes you feel very uncomfortable and they have no shame in trying to get into your personal space.

In a culture where this is taboo you can understand why there is the segregation.

I know I feel uncomfortable when a construction bus goes past me. 50 men all oogling (and they now have the audacity to cat call and make comments) (a bit like going past a construction site in Australia actually)

[starlagurl]

Yes, I can understand if there is harassment going on, then maybe there should be separation between sexes. BUT isn't that the same justification for apartheid?

Can this separation be compared to apartheid though? Is it similar, or completely different?

I'm so far away from understanding both situations that I have no idea.

[raniroo]

Initially, the service will be run with male drivers, but if the initiative is a success it will put on female drivers.

Currently there are only 12 seats designated for woman on the buses, which is not many seats considering the increase in woman travellers.

A female can still travel on the mixed buses, that won't change, but there now a choice for those that feel more comfortable travelling in same sex public transport.

Dubai has had huge success with the Ladies only taxis (which takes ladies or families). There are about 40 female drivers in Dubai. I have taken these taxis occassionally (usually because they are next in line) and I have been much more comfortable than in the male taxi (where I am usually harrassed about my age, weight, marriage status, proposals and the like....

Anti discrimination in this part of the world, as much as I would like to believe it does exist and on some level it does, but nothing like it is in the West.

[starlagurl]

Wow... I would like to go there an experience this at some point. It definitely is a very very different world.

[fdakuae]

well I like this step from Dubai government espcially many women like to use public transport, have free time off harassment from some men, and custom reasons.

But it's strange that there is no service at duration from 12pm to 3pm coz women might still working at these time such as in many banks, schools, and office work. However, in my opinon nowadays local women can drive to work, or have women driver at private cars, or sometime her husband drive her for work.