Published Paper Details:

This study investigates the attitude of passengers towards Pink Taxi services in Coimbatore City, with a particular focus on the social and psychological factors influencing their preferences. Traditional transportation studies often assume that passengers make travel choices purely based on cost, convenience, and availability. However, real-world behavior frequently deviates from this assumption due to concerns related to safety, gender sensitivity, cultural acceptance, and emotional comfort. This research emphasizes the influence of personal security perceptions, social awareness, cultural norms, and media portrayal in shaping passengers' attitudes toward women-only taxi services like Pink Taxi. Safety concerns, especially among women passengers, are a primary driver of preference for such services, with family influence and peer recommendations also playing a significant role. Cultural values, particularly in regions with traditional mindsets, affect the acceptance and popularity of gender-specific transport. Additionally, media representation of gender-based violence and public campaigns for women's safety can significantly impact awareness and demand. The study utilizes primary data collected from 155 respondents through structured questionnaires and applies tools like percentage analysis, Likert scale, and chi-square tests to analyze the findings. It concludes that emotional and social considerations often take precedence over economic reasoning in the acceptance of Pink Taxi services. The research highlights the need to recognize these behavioral drivers to enhance gender-sensitive transportation policies and promote safer commuting options. While the study is limited to the Coimbatore district and based on convenience sampling, its insights offer valuable implications for transport providers, urban planners, and policymakers aiming to improve inclusive mobility systems.