Women-only carriages in metro systems: between perceived safety and structural limitations. International evidence and Lessons for Lima

Abstract

This article analyzes gender-segregated spaces in metro systems as a response to sexual harassment in public transport. Based on a comparative study structured across five dimensions (operational design, governance and enforcement, complementary measures, reported outcomes, and controversies), it reviews five international cases (Mexico City, Tokyo, Dubai, Cairo, and Rio de Janeiro) together with a baseline analysis for Lima, with the aim of identifying achievements, limitations, and transferability conditions. The findings show that women-only cars consistently increase users perceived safety and comfort, and, in high-demand contexts, may support longer and more continuous trips. However, their structural effectiveness is limited: harassment persists in micro-spaces of the journey (station entrances, platforms, transfer corridors), reporting rates remain low, and suboptimal operational design (number of cars, service hours and coverage) can overcrowd mixed cars or displace violence. Moreover, social acceptance and compliance depend on the institutional capacity to enforce and sustain complementary measures. For Lima, the article proposes implementing evaluable peak-hour pilots, coupled with a clear sanctioning regime, reinforced surveillance, improved station access, and co-responsibility campaigns, along with rigorous impact assessments to determine the measure’s viability before any potential scale-up.