Transport for the North (TfN) has published new research highlighting the significant role that perceptions of personal safety play in influencing when and how people choose to travel on public transport across the region.

The study, authored by Tom Mace, Social Researcher at TfN, is based on insights gathered from more than 900 people and forms part of TfN’s ongoing work on transport-related social exclusion (TRSE).

The research marks TfN’s first dedicated study into personal safety on the transport network. According to the organisation, safety is a fundamental consideration for travellers, and perceptions of risk can deter people from using services even where recorded incidents are low. The study was intended to help local and combined authorities develop targeted interventions informed by lived experience.

Rachel Ford, Interim Strategy Director at TfN, says the work stems from broader analysis showing that 2.95 million people in the North are at high risk of social exclusion due to limitations in transport provision. 

“There are many factors contributing to TRSE and threats to personal safety is a significant one. For some, feeling unsafe while travelling can lead to a deep sense of isolation and exclusion from everyday opportunities,” she explains.

Sharing live location and changing appearances

The findings highlight a range of concerns raised by participants. These included women routinely taking precautionary steps such as sharing their live location when travelling, and members of ethnic and religious minority communities changing clothing or appearance to avoid being targeted.

Although individual experiences varied, several consistent themes emerged across locations:

• Perceptions of safety can be more influential than direct experience of crime.
• Personal safety concerns increase significantly after dark, particularly during the ‘first and last mile’ of a journey.
• Passengers lack confidence in reporting mechanisms, with many feeling that reporting incidents will not lead to meaningful action.
• Rail services were generally perceived as safer than other modes of public transport.

The research also indicates wider social and economic implications. When passengers avoid travel due to safety concerns or adjust their routines by travelling only at certain times or not alone, the effects extend beyond reduced ridership.

Those most reliant on public transport risk reduced access to employment, education, healthcare, and social participation. Declining patronage may also affect operator viability and local economic activity, while a shift towards private car use could contribute to congestion and environmental impacts.

“The report is intended to provide a shared evidence base for local authorities, operators, and regional leaders, many of whom already prioritise tackling violence against women and girls and improving safe travel environments,” Ford notes. “The findings are expected to inform place-based responses, with actions tailored to local conditions and community needs.”

While participants strongly supported measures such as increased staffing, improved lighting, enhanced CCTV and clearer reporting systems, concerns were raised about the potential for costs to be passed to passengers or local taxpayers. 

According to Ford, the study also addresses gaps in qualitative data, helping to build a clearer picture of the real-world experiences behind statistical trends. TfN has made the findings available to its constituent authorities to support future strategy and policy development. 

Download the report from TfN.

Read the Anti-Social Behaviour and Violence Against Women and Girls from the Bus Centre of Excellence.