Late Night Bus Stop Request Program for Women Launches in Brasilia, Brazil

According to Luisa Zottis of The City Fix, the women's safety law took effect earlier this year in June. Specifically, after 10 pm women can request to get off the bus at non-traditional stops anywhere along the route. The bus driver must meet these requests, and make people aware of this right.

A study on urban mobility in Brasília discovered that "user preferences result from a combination of how transit services themselves are designed – including route locations, cost, and convenience – and the user’s profile – his or her gender, age, income, and reason for traveling. Brasília’s new law helps its transport system better serve users without requiring significant investments in new infrastructure," as a crucial factor when deciding between mode choices specifically for women is perceived safety.

Indeed, Zottis discusses the male bias found by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women working group focused on urban mobility in the planning and implementation of transportation systems. Brasilia's new law is a low-cost way to address that gender bias by accommodating female concerns when using the bus lines.

A similar program is in place in the New York City MTA, where anyone can "Request-A-Stop" along local bus routes anytime between 10 pm and 5 am.