Exploring the factors affecting the movement of female pedestrians at night-time in Dhaka city

Abstract

In Bangladesh, where women make up half the population, the majority have experienced sexual harassment or violence in public spaces. Urban areas, especially during nighttime, pose notable challenges to women's safety and mobility, resulting in heightened insecurity and a reluctance to venture outdoors. Existing research in Bangladesh focuses on specific groups like garment workers, leaving a gap in understanding women's experiences compared to studies in developed nations. This study aims to find the factors that discourage and encourage female pedestrian movement at night from the perspective of a developing country. Based on literature review, local insights, and a pilot survey, a questionnaire with six subsets, covering areas such as socio-economic, demographics, road infrastructure, etc. was prepared. A survey was conducted collecting data from 500 women of diverse ages and backgrounds in Dhaka city. Independent variables were formed based on the responses provided in this survey. The dependent variable for this study is whether women commute outside during nighttime. Employing an Ordered Probit Model due to the ordinal nature of the dependent variable, the analysis will reveal whether certain factors encourage or discourage women from walking at night. The model assists in finding out the most affected group of women. The study's outcomes will assist policymakers to prioritize the components of road infrastructure enhancements and enact legislation to enhance the safety and well-being of female pedestrians during nighttime in developing cities like Dhaka.