A bus company in central China has launched a female only service so as to curb the number of groping incidents during the summer months. Some local men, however, are calling the service discriminatory and insulting.

The number three bus company in Zhengzhou introduced women only buses for route 906, set to run through August 7 during the morning and evening rush hours. The buses are marked with "women only" signs in front.

Some women have said they are fond of the new service, and new mothers say it makes it easier for them to breastfeed their children on board.

However, just days after the service’s launch, one elderly man lost his temper with a bus driver, saying the policy was "discrimination against men" and that the bus company had no right to do such a thing.

A man surnamed Li said it seemed like people were making a big fuss over a minor issue. "Sexual harassment is rare," he said.

Two women only buses on Route 906 are now running daily from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A normal bus will follow the female-only one to avoid delaying trips for male passengers.

So are women only buses really discrimination against men?

“Offering female-only service is a worthwhile endeavor because of the special needs of women, especially those who are pregnant or nursing,” said Ji Deshang, a sociology professor from Zhengzhou University. But he warned that such a service was only a temporary solution and wouldn’t tackle the crux of the problem.