The authorities in Cologne have initiated a pilot project aimed at improving women’s safety during nighttime.
Under the program, women in the city will receive vouchers to help cover the cost of night taxi rides.
The program, called “Women’s Night Taxi,” provides 1,500 vouchers worth €10 each for taxi rides between 10 PM and 6 AM. The vouchers can only be used with the taxi company Taxi Ruf. The project is expected to run until August 2025.
Cologne’s initiative is inspired by similar programs in other German cities. For instance, Munich has been offering night taxi vouchers since 2020. Due to growing demand, the subsidy per trip was increased this year from €5 to €10. Similar initiatives have also been successfully implemented in Stuttgart, Mannheim, and Giessen.
While the program has received positive feedback from social media users and local media, many point out that the cost of a taxi ride in large cities often exceeds €10, limiting the program’s effectiveness.
In addition to taxi vouchers, Germany has been developing other measures to enhance women’s safety. For example, a hotline is available where volunteers record details that can be passed on to the police in case of an emergency.
According to a 2020 survey conducted by the federal police, more than two-thirds of women in Germany fear using public transportation after dark.
Another study, carried out by Plan International among residents of major cities, revealed that 25% of women had experienced sexual harassment, while one in five had faced threats or stalking.
