Community Ideation Roundtables

WRI India, in partnership with Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA) held eight Community Ideation Roundtables under MobiliseHER. These sessions took place across Bengaluru neighbourhoods: Banashankari, Banaswadi, Hegganehalli, HSR Layout, Kottigepalya, K R Market, Peenya, and Whitefield. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) provided strong support, including Action Aid, Association for Promoting Social Action (APSA), The Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR), HSR Citizen Forum, HSR Cyclists, Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, Sangama, and Slum Development Federation.

The roundtables shared insights from qualitative data collection with residents and CSOs. The aim was to develop potential solutions at the neighbourhood level. A diverse group of 215 adults varied in age, gender, ability, and background joined to identify neighbourhood specific solutions and prioritised them for enhancing their mobility experience.

Participants reviewed insights derived from the 39 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Participatory Urban Appraisals (PUAs), and 26 key informant interviews across 10 neighbourhoods. The participants validated these findings. Then, they formed small groups to brainstorm solutions around core themes.

General participants discussed access, reliability, frequency of public transport, infrastructure and safety concerns. For gender and sexual minorities, discussion covered accessibility, behaviour of bus crew and fellow passengers, affordability, needed changes for dignity and comfort while they travel in public transport. Each group shared their top three priorities and vetted for action.

Key solutions identified to make transport safer and more inclusive are:

1. Stronger public transport networks with reliable services and better bus stop infrastructure and associated amenities.

2. Good footpath networks that are even, continuous, and uninterrupted for safe walking.

3. More safety measures like CCTV, surveillance at stops and buses, traffic signals, and wardens, especially at busy junctions and school areas.

4. Improved women’s helplines and quick emergency response.

5. Regular gender sensitivity training for bus staff.

The Community Ideation Roundtables captured fresh ideas from local people and created a clear action list for authorities and partners to build accessible, gender responsive transport systems in the city.

As a next step, these insights will be shared with the relevant government agencies through a co-creation workshop. CSO members and government officials will work together to co-create solutions that are easy to implement that ensure safety and inclusion. The outcomes of these co-creation workshops will feed directly into Bengaluru’s gender-responsive mobility plan, turning community voices into city-wide action.