Report: Transit Safety Begins With Better Service

In an article in Streetsblog USA, Haleema Bharoocha outlines the findings of TransForm’s report “Ride Fearlessly: A Framework for Reimagining Transit Safety.” Bharoocha writes, “as transportation systems rebound from the impacts of the pandemic, getting safety right is essential to restoring ridership and cultivating inclusive, thriving transit for all.”

The report identifies safety concerns from riders and advocates and “reveals one surprisingly straightforward solution: improve transit service.” As Bharoocha explains, “Increasing transit frequency and reliability reduces wait times, lowering the likelihood of harassment or harm. It’s also one of the best strategies for boosting ridership, which in turn increases riders’ sense of safety, in a virtuous feedback loop.”

The report also notes that “Supportive interventions are more effective than policing,” pointing out that “Not only do transit agencies waste valuable resources deploying police officers to respond to non-violent issues, their deployment also fosters a sense of danger among riders, particularly within Black and Brown communities.”

Bharoocha draws on her own experience as Advocacy Director of the Alliance for Girls in the Bay Area to highlight the importance of community partnerships that give community members a voice and a sense of ownership in their local transit systems.