Cleaner stations and increased security have Calgarians feeling safer on the city’s transit system, says a new survey.
The phone poll, the second in two years conducted for Calgary Transit, identified improvements in almost every area, something officials suggest shows a recent push for new safety measures and cleanliness have made the public feel more secure.
Brian Whitelaw, Calgary Transit’s co-ordinator of public safety, said the results show the city’s on the right track with its efforts.
“A lot of work has been done over the past 18 months to improve and enhance safety, security and cleanliness of the transit system and citizens are taking notice,” he said.
The survey, conducted in May by querying 500 transit users, said riders feel safer than a year ago on both C-Trains and buses but the numbers continue to ebb in the evening.
While 94 per cent of those travelling on C-Trains and 98 per cent of bus passengers felt safe during the day, those numbers fell to 62 per cent and 70 per cent respectively after 6 p.m.
Meanwhile, some 44 per cent of respondents at some point felt their personal safety was at risk on transit although only one per cent had been the victim of a crime.
Whitelaw said in addition to already boosted personnel and security, transit has asked for an additional 12 peace officers and will boost the existing 400 cameras at LRT stations by 30 per cent.
