How London is trying to make public transport safer for women

As passenger figures inch back towards pre-pandemic levels, a growing number of cities are re-examining how they can make public transport safer and more inclusive.

Reports of attacks and anti-social behaviour directed at staff and passengers have been on the rise globally over the past two decades, with an August 2022 study by the Mineta Transportation Institute finding the trend is “a relatively recent phenomenon”.

While developing cities, especially in South Asia, continue to account for the most serious attacks, countries with advanced economies are reporting a growing number of incidents.

Women in particular have reported feeling increasingly unsafe on public transport, and are...