Ladies First!

Ricardo Álvarez, the current mayor of Tegucigalpa from the National Party of Honduras, has inaugurated an all female bus route that starts at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma in the East of the city to el Carrizal in the North, to protect women from violence and sexual harassment they have suffered in the past.

Two buses can be differentiated by their unique colorings. In Tegucigalpa the public buses are usually bright yellow, however these female only buses are painted white with red flowers on them. Additionally, the slogan of the campaign “Primero las damas” or “Ladies first” is emblazoned on the sides and rear windows.

Female police officers ride inside the buses to make the passengers feel secure. Only one female driver could be found so the only man involved in the service is another driver who many have claimed is “blessed among the women”!

This new pilot system has been well received as women thanked and clapped the major when he announced the safer route. He stated that 48% of University students have suffered robberies, 35% of those have occurred on buses, so it is necessary to protect his constituents who requested a solution.

Jorge Lopez, the President of the National Transportation Council in Tegucigalpa, explained at the opening ceremony that the situation couldn’t be resisted any longer. He stated that drivers accused of being allied to the thieves actually had to pay a form of “war tax” for safe passage through gang infested areas of the city. Indeed many drivers had been killed as a result.

The buses have a capacity of 60 and will run from 5am to 9pm every day at a cost of $0.21 for each journey, but in the next 3 months there are plans to introduce a prepay card. Hopefully, the scheme will be spread throughout Honduras and women will feel more at ease whilst traveling.