How German Cities Are Rethinking Women’s Safety — With Taxis
As violence against women rises, cities like Mannheim are subsidizing night cabs for women.
Mannheim is one of several German cities that is offering vouchers for women to take taxis home at night
Photographer: taranchic/iStockphoto via Getty Images
Amid growing concerns about women’s nighttime safety, several German cities have launched night cab voucher programs, subsidizing taxi rides with €10 vouchers to give women a safer way home.
Such schemes have proved hugely popular with users, but their effectiveness in changing overall conditions remains a matter of debate. While countries ranging from India to the US have launched initiatives offering women-only taxi services, German cities are among the first globally to provide subsidies for women’s nighttime cab rides.