THE PERCEPTION AND INCIDENCE OF CRIME ON MIDDLE-SIZED BUS TRANSIT SYSTEMS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: AN OVERVIEW AND CASE STUDY

This is the final report of a set of studies undertaken in small cities in the Southeastern U.S.A. The studies included an overview of crime and safety on public transit consisting of the responses to questions to police departments and transit agencies in the region. The studies also included a case study of a set of personal interviews with drivers, riders and nearby residents of the public transit system in one small city, Greensboro, NC. The results indicate little violent crime on transit, with varying perceptions of the level of non-violent crime depending on the gender and race of the respondents. However, the residents who do not ride the transit system feel that it is unsafe because it serves areas that are perceived as unsafe. Non-riders were found to be particularly sensitive to the non-violent crimes reported on the system. It is recommended that transit security efforts focus on means of countering these perceptions. A promotional campaign is suggested to induce increased ridership by directly addressing the safety issue. The campaign consists of advertisements and civic events that will give people the experience of riding on the transit system so that they will learn first-hand how safe it is.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Support was provided by the Southeastern Transportation Center through a USDOT grant from the University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  North Carolina State University, Raleigh

  Institute for Transportation Research and Education, Centennial Campus, 909 Capability Drive
  Raleigh, NC  United States  27695

  Federal Transit Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Benjamin, J
  • Hatrgen, D
• Publication Date: 1994-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 75 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crimes; Crimes aboard buses; Passenger security; Promotion; Public passenger vehicles; Security
• Uncontrolled Terms: Transit vehicles
• Subject Areas: Public Transportation; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00676809
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Transit Administration
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Apr 11 1995 12:00AM