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Fear and safety in transit environments from the women’s perspective

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Abstract

While the relationship between women’s fear of crime and public space has been the focus of considerable research, transit environments have received less attention. This study examines women’s safety in transit environments through a comprehensive review of the literature and in-depth interviews with representatives of 16 national women’s interest groups in the United States. It finds that women have distinct safety/security needs, are often fearful of certain transit environments and frequently adjust their behaviour and travel patterns to avoid them. This is particularly true for certain groups of women who feel more vulnerable to victimization and harassment than others. The women interviewed outlined design, policing, security technology and education/outreach strategies that would make women riders feel safer in transit settings.

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Notes

  1. Transport for London (TfL) has initiated plans targeting the needs of women riders. In Mexico City, the municipal government started the WE TRAVEL SAFE programme in 2007, with the goal to prevent physical and sexual violence in the city’s public transportation system. In Canada, a number of municipal governments have funded METRAC to train community and women’s groups to conduct safety audits of transportation settings. In 2005, The Government of South Australia’s Minister for the Status of Women launched a programme called Our Commitment to Women’s Safety, which focuses on improving the safety and security of transportation settings.

  2. In safety audits, women walk around a transportation setting or public environment noting their fears and concerns and making suggestions for improved safety.

  3. The ‘fishbowl effect’ describes the situation where a bus shelter is brightly lit, but the surrounding environment is dark. In such a case the passenger is seen, but he/she is unable to see others outside the bus shelter.

  4. Gender mainstreaming denotes the integration of a gender perspective in policy processes with the goal of promoting equality of men and women.

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List of Interviews

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  • Zuckerman, D. President, Washington DC, National Research Center for Women and Families.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grant from the Mineta Transportation Institute.

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  1. UCLA Department of Urban Planning, 3250 Public Affairs Building, Box 951656, Los Angeles, 90095, CA, USA

    Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris

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Loukaitou-Sideris, A. Fear and safety in transit environments from the women’s perspective. Secur J 27, 242–256 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1057/sj.2014.9

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