Boston Transit Riders Report Safety Concerns

Almost three-quarters of current and former riders report feeling unsafe while using MBTA services.

1 minute read

September 18, 2023, 6:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Few passengers waiting in subway station with multiple platforms and "North Station" signs in Boston, Massachusetts

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A poll conducted by the Boston Herald shows that 70 percent of current and former users of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) public transit services express having felt unsafe while using the system.

According to an article by Benjamin Cortez in Hoodline, “only 45% of current and former riders believe that the MBTA will improve in 10 years, and 16% predict a worse future for the system’s service.”

This pessimistic view reflects the system’s recent setbacks, such as track maintenance safety and service cuts, as ridership continues to lag below pre-pandemic levels. Cortez notes, “While some factors are beyond the MBTA's control, two crucial elements could potentially entice more riders back: free rides and more reliable service. More than half of the respondents claim that these changes would make them more inclined to use the system in the future.”

Wednesday, September 13, 2023 in Hoodline

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