The transportation experience of the women of Pudahuel, Santiago de Chile

Abstract

Chile serves as a model for the rest of Latin American countries due to its consistent development policies and resulting economic growth. Yet, several of these countries fail to recognize the flaws in its system. As a result, there has been a recent upsurge in research on Chilean development policies and implications. This research has found that the Chilean housing and urban development process has generated social and environmental conditions that provide for unequal access to urban amenities for different groups of its population. This thesis describes the limitations to current research, highlighting the need for a more contextual-based approach that focuses on the relationship between urban expansion and the development of public transportation. A new research model was implemented which focused on the transportation experience of women who live in the urban peripheral comuna of Pudahuel. Results indicated considerable time and financial burdens while accessing work and healthcare, as well as heightened perceptions of insecurity while using the public bus transportation system. This perceived lack of safety is addressed through the implementation of design standards that focus on increased accessibility and visibility around public bus stops.