Fewer Women Riding Buses in Los Angeles

Women are using Los Angeles Metro’s buses and trains less than before the pandemic, according to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (L.A. Metro). Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Grace Toohey explains that the agency says it is close to getting back to regular schedules but still faces an operator shortage, leading to unreliable service and long headways.

In a survey administered by Metro to over 12,000 transit riders, riders cited safety as a top concern, with other concerns including cleanliness and reliability. “Elizabeth Medrano, a bus rider since the 1990s and now a transit organizer with the nonprofit Women Organizing Resources, Knowledge and Services, said it’s hard to pinpoint one reason for decreased female ridership, but noted the pandemic is still affecting many women, who are struggling financially as they are unable to return to the jobs they held before the pandemic.”

Jennifer Vides, Metro’s chief customer experience officer, says the agency is working to address rider complaints. “We are looking at all of it, we are convening teams to talk about the results from the survey and to develop a customer experience plan that addresses these things,” Vides told the L.A. Times. “. Metro officials and community leaders are also hopeful that the new transit ambassador pilot program — which is putting 300 uniformed and trained, yet unarmed, Metro staff on trains and buses — will improve safety by increasing the number of people at transit hubs and providing support to anyone who needs help.”