A Beijing politician has suggested setting up "women only" subway carriages on the city's crowded public transport system to curb sexual harassment and alleviate overcrowding, state press said Tuesday.

A carriage and map on Beijing's subway system. A politician in the capital city has suggested setting up "women only" subway carriages on the city's crowded public transport system to curb sexual harassment and alleviate overcrowding. (AFP/File)

"Beijing's subway is so crowded during rush hour, and women are at a disadvantage in both strength and stature to fight for the limited space," the China Daily quoted Wang Zhuo, a member of an advisory assembly, as saying.

Wang is proposing setting aside the middle carriages for women passengers, elderly people and children due to crowded conditions on the subways, which leads to sexual harassment, the report said.

His proposal is being posted on government websites for public debate, it added.

Up to 3.4 million trips are taken every day on Beijing's crowded subway system, which is expected to be one of the world's most extensive after additional lines are completed in the coming years.

According to a recent survey of 200 Beijing women, 50 percent said it was too difficult to get on the subway, while 30 percent said they had to squeeze into crowded carriages during rush hours, it said.

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