Munich launches new night taxi vouchers for women for safety!

Munich launches new night taxi vouchers for women for safety!

Important news has arrived for many women in Munich: As of today, there are again night taxi vouchers that are offered specifically for women. This innovation is intended to help women feel safer when they are on their way home at night. The program aims to promote participation in social life and has become increasingly important in recent months.

The process is now clearly regulated. Women can receive one voucher per person, but only if they present proof of need, such as a school, student or pension card. The Munich Pass and severely disabled IDs are also valid. This measure, which was introduced as part of the promotion of equality and security, is supported by the Munich city administration in order to specifically support women in need of help. The rejection of applications for further vouchers came, among others, from the CSU parliamentary group, which demands that these should also be redeemable with providers such as Uber. These discussions show how important the topic is in the city.

Background and demand

The number of taxi voucher users rose rapidly at the beginning of the year - by almost 600 percent! The annual budget of 230,000 euros was almost exceeded in the spring, which resulted in a temporary cessation of voucher distribution. However, the district administration committee decided to continue the program so that women still have the opportunity to apply for vouchers.

The vouchers worth 10 euros can be redeemed during the night between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. This applies to all women, including trans* women as well as women with the gender entry “diverse” and non-binary women. To ensure that the vouchers are issued efficiently, they are available at the Citizens' Office. A limited contingent is available at the beginning of each month, supplemented by an emergency contingent provided by the Equal Opportunities Office in the town hall. These vouchers are also issued during special events such as Oktoberfest or the town hall clubbing “18.jetz”.

Safety for women in cities

The initiative in Munich is not only characterized by the voucher issue, but is also in the context of a broader discussion about the safety of women in urban areas. A study by Plan International found that 80 percent of the places evaluated in German cities were considered unsafe by girls and women. Women's interaction with urban spaces differs from that of men: women often travel on foot or by public transport and need a safe environment.

City planners like Eva Kail therefore demand that public spaces should be viewed from different perspectives in order to make them more accessible and safe for all genders. Important aspects include good lighting, clear paths and an attractive environment such as busy squares or well-placed shops with different opening times. Such measures can significantly improve many women's sense of security and thus help them to move around the city more freely at night.

Overall, it is clear that the city of Munich's steps towards a better security situation for women at night are both necessary and important. The resumption of taxi vouchers is just part of a larger plan to create a safe and pleasant living environment for women in the city.

For further information and details about taxi vouchers, please visit the website BR as well as Munich.de. You can also find the discussion about gender-friendly urban development in the article by Deutschlandfunk Nova.