A new multi-story parking garage in Brno has reignited a long-standing European debate: Should women have their own designated parking spaces and, if so, what message does that send?
At Akademické náměstí in Brno, four of the garage’s 600 parking spots are now reserved for women. Located close to exits and monitored by security cameras, the spaces are designed to offer a greater sense of safety, particularly at night. A survey after six months will gauge public reaction and determine whether to expand the program, which already exists in Prague.
Speaking to Seznam Zprávy, Brno transport councilor Petr Kratochvíl was quick to clarify: “It’s definitely not about driving skills. It’s about safety and comfort.”
A concept with European Roots
While newcomers to Czechia and Europe may be unfamiliar with the concept, it’s far from a local novelty. In Germany, so-called Frauenparkplätze (women’s parking spaces) have been around since the 1990s and are a legal requirement in many areas.
The policy was introduced to help prevent sexual assaults in parking garages after a string of high-profile attacks. The spaces are now common across German-speaking countries, including Austria and Switzerland. At Frankfurt Airport, up to 30 percent of spaces are reserved for women.
In the Czech Republic the first female parking space appeared in front of a restaurant on the D10 highway to Mladá Boleslav in 2009; the issue resurfaced in 2019 when a McDonald’s in Prague 9 received online backlash for introducing them.
Practical or patronizing?
Supporters argue the concept is about practical safety, not about implying women are poor drivers. They’re nearer to the entrance, more lights, CCTV, and the extra width accommodates strollers or children more easily.
But critics aren’t convinced. When Frankfurt Airport painted its women-only spots pink, backlash was swift.
Geraldine Herbert, editor of Wheels for Women magazine, called it patronizing: “It reinforces the stereotype that women are bad at parking.” She added that instead of segregating spots, parking infrastructure should evolve overall to reflect the size of modern cars and diverse user needs.
Others have criticized the implication that women need “special treatment” to feel safe. Male opponents of women-only parking say that offering wider spaces only to women with children implies that only women can be caretakers.
Whenever the issue comes up, many in the comment sections inevitably take the opportunity to crack jokes at the expense of women drivers.
Data doesn’t lie
And yet, data on safety in parking garages complicates the picture. According to one American living in Germany, Lauren Longo, “1 in 12 completed or attempted sexual assaults in the U.S. occurs in parking garages.”
Writing for Medium, Longo said she appreciated the extra security: “After doing the research, I’d rather walk a few fewer steps and feel safer.”
Brno resident Iva echoed that view to Seznam Zprávy: “I might feel a bit embarrassed using the spot, but if I’m alone at night and there’s a choice, I’ll take the one near the exit.”
However, you feel about the issue, it does spark a deeper conversation about gender and public space. To some, women-only parking may seem like a practical solution to a real problem. To others, it feels like a relic of outdated thinking.
For now, Brno officials insist the program is optional. “We’re not forcing anyone. If the interest is there, we’ll expand,” said Kratochvíl.
Trains tell a different story
Czech Railways is phasing out its women-only sections, introduced in recent years to offer solo women travelers a greater sense of safety, particularly during early morning or late-night journeys.
However, the service, currently offered on 179 trains, is being gradually discontinued as the company shifts toward modern open-plan carriages, which make such designated spaces harder to maintain.
Meanwhile, Slovakia is moving in the opposite direction. Its state rail company has reported strong demand, with an average occupancy of 60 percent, for women-only sections and is expanding the service to additional long-distance routes.