Can women drive a BUV? BUVs have many different features that make them suitable for women in the developing world. They are affordable, safe, durable, have a low center of gravity, and excellent driver visibility. They are also designed with a comfortable seat, that unlike common transportation options such as motorcycles or bicycles, is easy for women to access and ride in with long skirts and dresses.
We are aware of the cultural factors that could prevent the BUV from becoming an easily accessible mode of transportation for women in the developing world. In many cases, women are expected to provide food and water for their families, but their duties, rights, and responsibilities are severely limited beyond those daily tasks. The International Forum for Rural Transport and Development (IFRTD) refers to the lack of transportation options for women as a form of “time poverty”. In developing communities, women are unable to focus on their personal health and education due to the amount of time it takes to perform daily tasks.
IFRTD shares an example from Tanzania in which they estimate that women “spend four times as much on transport-related tasks than men do”. The World Bank echoes these concerns, and realizes that many of their Millennium Development Goals will be unreachable until equality in regard to transportation is addressed and improved.
IAT believes that the BUV is one solution for women who are in need of transportation throughout the world. BUVs will help women get to and from markets, expand small business ventures, have quicker access to medical care, as well as provide valuable resources to their families and communities. For more information on how you can be a part of bringing affordable transportation to women in need, please contact us. We look forward to your partnership in bringing hope to those who need it most.
