ABSTRACT
This chapter explores women's everyday travel experiences in the twin cities. They enable us to explore how Islamabad and Rawalpindi's highly contrasting urban form and institutional structure impact women's transport choices. Islamabad and Rawalpindi are twin cities: mutually adjacent with people commuting daily within and between them. Islamabad's population is around 1,400,000, while Rawalpindi's is 2,600,000. Women respondents complained about harassment in public spaces in both Islamabad and Rawalpindi. All said they had been harassed verbally, and faced verbal comments when alone or with female friends in markets, streets, parks and public transport. Many respondents said that they could easily access metro stations in Rawalpindi because the buses pass through the busiest route, Murree Road, where other modes of transport were abundant, particularly rickshaws. Strong gender differences prevail in both cities about women driving motorcycles or bicycles. It is perceived as culturally inappropriate for women to drive motorcycles, although legally permitted.
