UN Women Lauds Mumbai's Initiative To Make Traffic Lights Gender-Inclusive

In a bid to promote gender equality, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) recently introduced female symbols on pedestrian signs and signage.

Twitter/Aditya Thackery

The concept, which is a pet project of Maharashtra Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray, also involves setting up vertical gardens behind bus stops, better footpaths and guiding tiles for the visually impaired.

The female traffic signage initiative was praised by United Nations Women. "Here's #SomeGoodNews! Vertical traffic light Mumbai is changing some of its traffic lights to be gender inclusive," it tweeted.

Here's #SomeGoodNews! ? Mumbai is changing some of its traffic lights to be gender inclusive. ? via @CNNStylehttps://t.co/6vCHS6i2ut

¡ª UN Women (@UN_Women) August 6, 2020

Mr Thackeray said: "Delighted to see the efforts of the BMC for 'the correct signal' being recognised by UN Women. Some may say this is only 'signalling', but equality cannot be measured, it has to begin in the way we think. Each such step, matters!"

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Aditya Thackery - the Minister for Tourism and Environment, Maharashtra government and the head of the project - said that the signage is ¡°ensuring gender equality with a simple idea.¡±

If you¡¯ve passed by Dadar, you¡¯d see something that will make you feel proud. @mybmcWardGN is ensuring gender equality with a simple idea- the signals now have women too! pic.twitter.com/8X0vJR8hvQ

¡ª Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) August 1, 2020

According to reports, the BMC has already changed signals and signage at one of the 13 junctions included under the plan. While the gender-inclusive traffic light is a first in India, countries like Germany and Australia started marking female icons in traffic signage in 2014 and 2017, respectively.

In Geneva the crosswalk sign with a man was replaced with a cartoon figure of 'Ampelfrau' or woman at a traffic light. The Netherlands city of Amersfoot also introduced Sofie a ponytailed female traffic light figure in 2000. Melbourne in Australia featured female figurines on traffic lights in 2017.

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