ACCTING Factsheet: Towards safer mobility: A holistic approach to tackling violence in public transportation

Safe public transport is essential for reaching a socially just and inclusive green transition. Only when people feel safe on buses, subways, trains, etc., more people will be willing to switch from car usage to public transport. However, violence in public transport remains pervasive, with disproportionate negative effects on operating staff, women, and socially vulnerable groups. Global comparisons show that 3 out of 5 women report experiencing sexual harassment on public transport (Social Development Direct), and in some cases 4 in 5 young women (Hooker et al). This is more than two times what women experience in society at large (FRA, EIGE, Eurostat (2024).

Public transport operators, key players in preventing and addressing violence, are also victims of it. Every major public transport operator is confronted every day with violence against staff, which has major consequences on people and on the quality and reliability of the service offered. Thus, the overall prevalence of violence discourages the use of public transport, contributes to an increased reliance on private vehicles, and it forces individuals to accept unsafe conditions or restrict their mobility.

This factsheet provides evidence-based recommendations to guide policymakers and operators in fostering safer and more inclusive public transport systems, leveraging insights from the EU-funded ACCTING project and advocating for the use of the UniSAFE 7P framework.