Quantitative Research in Evaluating the Perceived Safety and Effectiveness of Women- Only Taxi Services in Reducing Harassment for Female Travelers in Paris

Abstract

This quantitative research examines the perceived safety and effectiveness of women-only taxi services in reducing harassment for female travelers in Paris and selected European cities. Using a structured online questionnaire (N ≈ 40–60), the study compares perceived safety levels and self-reported harassment incidents between women-only and standard ride-hailing services. Descriptive and inferential analyses (t-tests, chi-square, correlations, and regression) indicate significantly higher perceived safety and lower non-physical harassment (verbal and behavioral) among users of women-only services, while differences in physical harassment were not statistically significant. Key adoption barriers include limited availability, longer waiting times, higher perceived costs, and ethical/legal concerns regarding gender-exclusive services. The findings suggest that women-only taxi services can serve as a valuable supplementary safety measure but should not replace systemic safety reforms in mainstream ride-hailing platforms. Policy implications include strengthening driver vetting, real-time monitoring, incident reporting mechanisms, and targeted pilots or subsidies to improve availability without reinforcing segregation.