Report Reveals Safety Concerns Are Changing How People in the North Use Public Transport

Safer Highways
Sep 23
2 min read

A new study by Transport for the North (TfN) has found that many residents across the North of England are changing how, when, and even whether they use public transport due to personal safety worries.

The report, Safety and Public Transport in the North, draws on research that included seven focus groups and an online survey of over 900 people from varied social and economic backgrounds. It shows that both lived experiences and perceptions of safety are shaping travel behaviour, often restricting access to buses, trains, and trams.

Key findings

The study highlights several important insights:

Safety concerns are a major factor in whether people choose to travel, as well as the times and modes of transport they use.
Perceptions of risk, often influenced by media reports or second-hand stories, can be more powerful than personal experience.
Women, disabled passengers, ethnic minorities, and LGBTQ+ travellers are disproportionately affected by safety challenges.
Feelings of insecurity rise significantly after dark, especially during the “first and last mile” of journeys to and from stations or stops.
Many incidents go unreported, reflecting a lack of confidence that complaints will be acted on.
Trains are generally viewed as safer than buses.

Respondents strongly supported measures such as more staff presence, improved CCTV and lighting, easier reporting systems, and safer journey planning. However, they stressed that the cost of such improvements should be met by government or operators rather than through fare increases or local taxation.

Leadership response

Katie Day, Deputy Chief Executive at TfN, said:

“This research shines a light on the real-life concerns of people across the North when it comes to personal safety on public transport. While most journeys are incident-free, perceptions of risk are shaping decisions, with some people avoiding buses, trains or trams altogether. This not only affects individuals’ quality of life but can also deepen transport-related social exclusion.Everyone should feel confident using public transport, whatever the time of day and whatever their background.”