Measuring Behavior 2005: Vicencio-Silva

Understanding and improving perceived personal security in public transport

M. A. Vicencio-Silva

Centre for Transport Studies, University College London, London, UK

This will set the scene for this Symposium, from the perspective of those who use a public space, using public transport as its primary example. Perceived personal security of travellers and staff is important to public transport operators in terms of their responsibility to their customers and employees and its effects on patronage. More generally, improvements in social inclusion can be achieved through better access to public transport use.

The first steps to achieve an improved perception of personal security risks are:

Gain an understanding of the difference and relationship between reported personal security incidents and people’s perception of risks to their security.
Understand people’s concerns when using (or choosing not to use) public transport and thus inform improvements in this area.
Gather a ‘wish-list’ from people regarding their personal security in public transport to help defining longer-term aims in the area.

The information gathered through these steps was collected from a diversity of stakeholders: staff, travelling and non-travelling public. Special attention was given to socially excluded sections of the population. Methods included extensive one-to-one and small group interviews. The insights obtained into how security is perceived have identified a range or practical ways of reducing risks to personal security in public transport systems.

The many efforts already being made by public transport operators were reviewed to consider how they can be complemented with wider initiatives in the community. The type of information and communications technologies that can contribute to these efforts is outlined.

The concept of public transport stations, vehicles, structures and stops as ‘places’ which all kinds of people should feel that they have equal rights to share, emerges strongly – as does the need to deny these rights to the minority who exclude themselves by criminal or other deliberately antisocial behavior. Possible means for detecting such behavior effectively and thus to empower those who need to be in control of these public spaces, is then addressed by the rest of the speakers.

Paper presented at Measuring Behavior 2005 , 5^th International Conference on Methods and Techniques in Behavioral Research, 30 August - 2 September 2005, Wageningen, The Netherlands.