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TRA's commuter trains to provide women-only cars
HARASSMENT:
One of every four of the trains' cars will be limited to use by women. Taipei is studying whether to offer a similar arrangement on the MRT
By Shelley Shan
STAFF REPORTER
Sunday, May 14, 2006, Page 1
Female and women's rights advocates this week asked that the nation's mass transportation systems reserve certain cars for the use of female passengers only -- a measure that intends to protect women from being sexually harassed.
While Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) promised on Friday to have women-only cars on commuter trains within two weeks, the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp (TRTC) said the policy was controversial and needed to be thoroughly evaluated.
"We will host a seminar inviting representatives from women's groups and the Consumers' Foundation after the Tucheng Line begins to operate," said Alex Chang (張煥光), TRTC vice president and spokesperson, "And we want to do it out of our respect for women."
Chang the city government was considering two main issues: protecting female passengers from sexual harassment during peak hours and not discriminating against male passengers.
Japan women-only cars because of overcrowded trains and complaints from female commuters about perverts, while other countries have provided women-only cars for religious reasons.
The TRA plans to designate one of every four cars on commuter trains for use by women only.
TRA Deputy Director-General Chen Feng-nan (陳峰男) said on Friday the policy would come into effect by the end of this month. He said the cars will be used by women and elementary school students.
Chen the administration had once previously installed cars for the use of female students who needed to commute between Tainan and Chiayi counties 30 years ago.
This, he said, was not something new for the administration.
While female passengers welcomed the changes, others thought they were superfluous.
"Designating cars for women's use isn't necessary," said Hsu Yu-Fang (許玉芳), a housewife who is a regular user of Taipei's Mass Rapid Transit, adding that the trains never seemed to be as crowded as those in Japan and she had never been harassed by male passengers.
A college student who went by the name "Max" said it would be odd to restrict certain cars for women only. He also said he did not think the measure would prevent sexual harassment.
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