WHEN A BUS RIDE TURNS TO FEAR...

The investigation of bus-related crimes from the riders point of view was undertaken by two UCLA faculty members. This study and its conclusions, sponsored by UMTA, are reported in "Factors Affecting the Incidence and Perception of Bus Crime in Los Angeles." The study process is described in this article. Investigators concluded that transit crime in LA was up to 30 times more prevalent than shown by statistics of the Southern California Rapid Transit District. Because most transit crimes go uncounted because of the way information is recorded, bus crime was seen as a far more serious problem than previously considered. The 2-volume study states that many bus-related crimes go unreported to any police agency, others which are reported are never investigated, and incidents at or enroute to or from bus stops may not be considered as transit crimes. Household interviews indicated by extrapolation that in a year about 23,000 bus-related crimes occurred, as compared with the 843 that SCRTD reported for its entire service area. UCLA figures indicate that 46% of the crimes took place on the bus, 22% at bus stops and 22% while walking to and from the stops. Crime victims--most often elderly, female or minority, suffered considerable financial loss. Overcrowding was considered a major inducement to crime on buses and at some bus stops. Most such crimes occur in late afternoon and early evening in highly populated areas. Night crimes are found to be the most life threatening. Since the study was made, SCRTD has participated in organization of task forces to study transit bus crime. Special attention is being given to the plan of the City of Inglewood for combatting the bus crime problem.

• Corporate Authors:

  UCLA Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Plann

  405 Hilgard Avenue
  Los Angeles, CA  United States  90024
• Publication Date: 1985

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 26-31
• Serial:
  • UCLA Architecture and Planning
  • Publisher: UCLA Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Plann

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bus stops; Bus transportation; Crimes; Data collection; Interviewing; Police; Security
• Identifier Terms: Southern California Rapid Transit District
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00454899
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 31 1988 12:00AM