Why women-only buses can’t solve the broader issues of safety and harassment

A recent viral Facebook post detailing a woman's harassment on a crowded public bus from Bhaktapur to Kathmandu has highlighted the pervasive issue of safety and discomfort on public transport in Nepal.

Data from fiscal year 2025-26 indicates that police arrested over 1,600 individuals for various forms of misconduct on public transport and in public places. This included arrests for physical sexual harassment and obscene behavior. The preceding fiscal year, 2024-25, saw even more alarming figures, with over 4,000 arrests for unlawful public behavior, including 43 for obscene acts, 32 for using abusive language on public transport, and 16 for physical sexual harassment.

In response, the government, led by Balendra Shah, is piloting a 'Blue Bus' service, a women-only transportation initiative in Kathmandu, with plans for a potential nationwide rollout. This initiative was initially proposed as part of a 100-point governance reform and has been allocated budget for the upcoming fiscal year. For women who have experienced or fear harassment, this project could offer immediate relief, potentially reducing the need for defensive measures like sitting only beside other women or avoiding crowded buses.

However, critics argue that women-only buses risk becoming a superficial solution, diverting attention from the deeper institutional changes required to make all public transport safe. The article posits that violence against women often originates in the home, with societal norms treating women as objects and grooming men with a sense of entitlement. This mindset, it is argued, extends into the public sphere, where women are not always viewed as equal citizens deserving of respect.

As long as this underlying societal mindset persists, women-friendly policies like segregated buses may fail to bring about lasting change. The article suggests that such initiatives can lead to segregation rather than fostering an environment where all public transport is genuinely safe for everyone. It also raises concerns that such policies might place the burden of safety disproportionately on victims.