I think your comment works well with what I was trying to extract from Forman’s theory: that even if the NRC was doing applied research for decades, people just got it in their heads that it _ought_ to have been a place of pure, basic science because that has been ranked higher for so long, and so that’s how they perceived the NRC. Only in recent years has it become more acceptable to recognize it for what it is/was, despite the politicizing. Just an idle theory.

One can certainly sympathize with Volkov, and his employers, for being used to make fraudulent insurance claims in this way. This was the original point of the dash cam, as noted in the earlier blog post. In the video, you can see when someone cuts in front of the bus and applies their brakes, for no apparent reason.

This point illustrates the theme of the original post: That dash cams seem to be changing the dynamic on Russian roads. With a dash cam, Volkov can drive more aggressively and feel safe from punishment from the law, while dishing out extra-legal punishment himself.

In your second comment, you question my claim that women-only cars could be considered fair. Let me elaborate what I mean. It would be fine to treat everyone equally if they started from a equal position. Thus, women-only cars would be fair provided that there are also men-only cars. That applies only when men and women start from an equal position in society. Here, that is not the case. It is women who seem to face a problem of personal security that men do not face. Furthermore, since the measures that women are able to take on their own behalf – the article mentions one women who punches men who grope her – are apparently not effective, more effective measures are needed. Women-only cars are an obvious measure to consider.

Then, the question is: Are women-only cars effective? I am not aware of any studies that address this question. In the absence of such information, I can only re-iterate that women-only cars could be considered fair, provided that they give the needed protection.

The Atlantic article states that it is not illegal for men to use the women-only cars. Some do so, I also noted, as a form of protest against the rule.

The appearance of women-only cars is disturbing, as you point out, particularly if it is part of a broader trend for women-only places based on a need to protect them from groping or other abuse. It suggests the existence of a societal problem that segregation will not repair. As I said in the original article, the women-only cars could be justified if they are part of a larger project to address whatever issue is undermining women’s personal security in public places. If, on the contrary, segregation is applied as a solution to that issue, then it could simply entrench the problem, or even backfire, as you suggest.

Western nations used to have women-only passenger cars, for a variety of reasons. For example, it was considered disreputable for a women to be traveling alone with unrelated men. Also, it allowed women to stay clear of the drinking and smoking that sometimes occurred in the other cars. Social norms have changed, which means that such cars are not required. Of course, we still do have some forms of gender segregation, e.g., women-only universities and women-only bathrooms. Unisex bathrooms have their advocates, but it seems that not enough women, or men, feel comfortable with that idea yet.

Groping is still a problem of women in public transit in Western countries. If it got severe enough that women demanded separate cars, then that would be a scandal. I hope that it does not come to that.

“Such services are available in several places…”
Please define the places more precisely, in fact with exception of japan no developed country uses women-only cars. I dont consider Brazil, Mexico, India as developed, their legal constitution is questionable by western standard.

“…some men feel about how they can treat women”
Define “some”, how many? Certainly its a minority, but you want to exclude all.

“Perhaps they feel that groping is their privilege”
If that would be true, a criminal (and I use the word criminal in purpose) gropping a women using a mixed car may argue: “She has not used the women-only car, its her own fault”.

“…and the special trains discontinued when the fundamental problem has been adequately addressed”
You dont believe that by yourself. Women-only cars were introduced in japan to a larger extent in 2005, claiming just to be a short-term emergency measure. They are still running 7 years later, emergency takes long time.

“..that is, reverse discrimination”
No, it isnt reverse discrimination, it IS discrimination.

“Women commuters could be considered as members of a vulnerable segment of the population, and thus entitled to special protection”
Vulnerable by what? What crimes are mostly happening at public transport and who are the victims?
Whats with the elderly, children (including male children) and handicapped?

“…it could still be considered fair”
It would be fair and maybe even constitutional if the same numbers of men-only trains are provided too.

“In cases where accessibility creates an unfair security problem for some users of the service..”
I will tell you something Cameron Shelley: The introduction of women-only cars in fact will reduce security of passengers, simply because authorities will consider the problem as fixed and will downsize more expensive security measures such as, increasing the frequency and space of the trains, security personal…(thats the more expensive but fair measures they wanted to avoid in Rio de Janeiro and Mexico City by introducing women-only cars )

“Are there other (non-obvious) instances where designing people out could be considered a good thing on this basis?”
Yes. How about designing out black passengers from some cars of the New York subway, simply because statistically they are commiting more crimes.

There is huge impact on society. Women-only cars declare the collective of men as sexual predators. How do children feel about, are male children allowed, even if they allowed are they not ashamed using the women-only car?
It opens up a can of worms. The seggregation may spread to other parts of public life. If women-only cars are legally allowed, why not also women-only hotelfloors with women-only lobbies, women-only restaurants….In fact that all exists in japan, including women-only universities. Are gender-integrative western societies ready for that?