Mexico City Rolls Out Sex-Segregated Buses

Constant Groping, Harassment Led Women's Groups To Demand "Ladies Only" Road Transport

(AP)  Groping and verbal harassment is an exasperating reality for women using public transportation in this sprawling capital, where 22 million passengers cram onto subways and buses each day. Some men treat women so badly that the subway system has long had ladies-only cars during rush hour, with police segregating the sexes on the platforms.

But that hasn't helped women forced to rely on packed buses, by far the city's most-used form of public transportation - until this week.

Acting on complaints from women's groups, the city rolled out "ladies only" buses, complete with pink signs in the windshields to wave off the men.

As word spreads about the buses, the women seem delighted, while some men forced to wait a few minutes longer have shown their anger. Still others have stumbled on board despite the signs, much to their embarrassment.

On Thursday, passengers on one of the female-only buses spent most of their trip down the capital's tree-lined Reforma Avenue chatting or putting on makeup, instead of fighting off unwanted male attention.

When a man mistakenly climbed aboard, the women immediately began teasing him and shouting that he should read the "ladies only" sign.

"He's a gentleman! He should get off," shouted Yolanda Altamirano, a 64-year-old office janitor.

The man blushed and mumbled an apology, then ignored the taunts until he got off several stops later.

"Now he knows how women feel," Altamirano said, unapologetic for giving him a hard time.

Mexico City's female-only buses run along three busy routes throughout the day for now, but the city plans to add them to 15 other routes by April, said Ariadna Montiel, who directs the public bus system.

"Women were asking for this service because of the sexual harassment, especially groping and leering," Montiel said.

And while some men have complained that they have to wait longer for a bus, she said the women are thrilled: "The women are really happy and we have been getting a lot of e-mail and letters from them."

Juliana Romero, a 49-year-old secretary, said not riding with men is "fantastic."

"When the bus is packed, there will inevitably be a lecherous man who will bother you," she said.

Women-only buses or subways have been rolling for years in India, Brazil, Japan and other countries. Mexico City finally took the action as part of a growing responsiveness to complaints about discrimination against women, Montiel said.

While only seven female public bus users complained last year, she said the real number of offenses was probably much higher, because women rarely protest openly against sexual harassment.

Some women, like Maria Elena Sanchez, have learned to take matters into their own hands. A 47-year-old office messenger who uses public transportation all day, said she carries a sewing pin for protection.

"I always carry the pin so I can defend myself from abusive men," she said - adding that she's had to use it twice this month alone.

Traveling only with women, she said, makes her feel more secure and allows her to relax a bit on the way to work.

"I don't think I will use the pin on these buses," she said, giggling.

[Con Mohrat]

I wonder if Arnold learned his groping skills there.

[keithle1]

Illegal immigrants make up a big part of gangs in USA.
They''re also involved in a lot of crimes such as rape, sexual assault, etc.

Black & Latino men. What are we gonna do with them?

[tbweb]

nolalou,,, I was born and raised on U.S. soil, so I guess that does make me a native American. Of course all Mexicans are not bad, but those in the U.S. illegally have already broken the Law. They also have to lie and forge documents to stay in the U.S. illegally. Its estimated 12 million Mexicans are doing this, nice or not, its a crime. In addition its estimated over 30,000 are gang members committing voilent crimes using guns and drugs. Mexico is harboring that Marine murderer, they know where he is. I like law abiding Mexicans, I don''t like criminals from any culture. Watch what you say, an illegal Mexican may have a bad encounter with a female close to you.

[toolmangler-2009]

When I was growing up, a man that offended a woman in sight of another man would be promptly stopped chastised and put off the conveyance. If he resisted, the other men would gang up on him and ''throw'' him off. what happened? ''Movies, Gangsters, (public Porn), Womens lib, and a host of other societal breakdowns. (One of the prices of ''total'' freedom)

[culturechang]

It really should be stated as "Gender-Segregated", but the media still knows the word "***" sells.

[nolalou]

tbweb, so now because of a problem in Mexico City, you presume all Mexicans are out to abuse our women in the USA? Give me a break! As for Cesar Laurean, he is a US citizen, an American Marine Cpl, not a Mexican Marine Cpl! Let''s face it you don''t like Mexicans legal or otherwise, and you''re using this story to spew your hatred and ignorance!


But you may have a point, they should have closed the borders years ago, when your immigrant grandparents, or great grandparents came to this country from somewhere in Europe! (unless of course you happen to be a native American Indian)

[hypnotoad72]

Would such segregation be allowed in America?

Still, why can''t men be civilized enough to keep their hands to themselves? Filthy pigs...

I''ll get the popcorn. Many of the other responses prefer to revel in racist nonsense. That''s why I took the sexist, anti-male route by calling us all "filthy pigs"...

[tbweb]

So now they tell us, after 12 million illegal Mexicans invade the U.S. and are in place, now we find out they are aggressive sexual predators on Buses! To think New York also planned to issue them Drivers Licenses so they could drive Taxi''s and sexually harass female passengers too or worst! This news is right up there with letting Mexican truckers drive on U.S. roads, and then telling us they drive like nuts after the fact. Mexican Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean kills pregnant Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach, runs to Mexico and if caught now can''t face the death penalty because of Mexican rules. Mexico has the audacity to complain the U.S. is picking on Mexico, it looks to be the other way around. This really is turning into a real life "who let the dogs out" ... secure U.S. Borders NOW!

[terrorislam6]

japan had to do the same thing, malaysia needs to do it

[camboh82]

It cracks me up when people are being racist and judgmental and don''t realize it.

[inventagod]

It always cracks me up that the mexicans I know are so Catholic... yet the brothers of these women use language to their own sisters that would etch chrome off bumpers... Then the sisters dress up in their frilly white lace and go to church on sunday, pretending they are so virginal...

I believe they both use what works, for their own benefit...

[cantshutup]

there is something seriously wrong with mexican "men"...i had one trying to CORNER me in the dollar store the other night...i literally ran out without making a purchase, he had me so freaked out...! i''m gonna start packin some heat! you hear me you mexican freaks???

[rudy654-2009]

These are chilangos (a term used by the rest of Mexico to refer to people from the capital). The men tend to be rather rude in the Federal District and that is why chilangos have a bad reputation all throughout Mexico. Surely there are good men who don''t do this krap, but in Mexico there is this need to prove manlihood.

[glaswolf]

All mexican men are not necessarily bad, that''s like me saying all white men are like Dahmer or enjoy dragging blacks in chains. Oh the other hand I know a lot of blacks who would wonder outloud just how far any white man is from Dahmer and wonder when they see chains in the back of pickups. I digress, this is cool, people should feel relaxed in public. Give the ladies a break.

[beehive21-2009]

The mexican men ,show a lot of hostility towards women they seem to believe in,do as your told or we shall beat you, they beat and kill all the women who think about leaving them, one even chained one girlfriend to a engine block while he went off to work,third world clowns.Wonder what happened ? separate Buses ?