Women and girls are being forced to adapt their own behaviour and change their travel habits in order to feel safe on public transport, according to research commissioned by Transport Scotland.
Now a report has made 10 recommendations to help them feel safer, including:
Introducing systems to regularly monitor, upgrade and repair lighting and communications systems for all transport services
Developing credible and accessible information and guidance on reporting incidents that do occur
Exploring the feasibility of increasing the presence and visibility of staff across the transport network
A comprehensive review of staff training on both their own safety and how to support and protect passengers
The Minister for Transport announced in February last year that the Scottish Government would consult on women and girls’ safety on public transport.
Since then, Transport Scotland has taken forward a programme of research work, with the substantive aspect being focussed qualitative engagement with women and girls.
Transport Scotland will now work with stakeholders to review the recommendations and identify actions to take forward.
I’m Graeme’s Parliamentary Assistant based at Holyrood, but I support his constituency work as well. Having been Caseworker to an Aberdeenshire MP some years prior, joining Graeme's team in 2019 was a return to this line of work from a role in fundraising.