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Public Transit Safety Among University Students Public Transit Safety Among University Students Technical Report April 2020 i Public Transit Safety Public Transit Safety Among University Students Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, PhD Madeline Brozen Hao Ding Miriam Pinski Fariba Siddiq 2381 Public Affairs Building Los Angeles, CA 90095 [email protected] lewis.ucla.edu Copyright ©2020 i Public Transit Safety TECHNICAL REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. UCLA-18-31, TO-010 N/A N/A 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Public Transportation Safety Among University Students March 2020 6. Performing Organization Code N/A 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, UCLA https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0186-4751 PSR-UCLA-18-31 Madeline Brozen, UCLA Hao Ding, UCLA Miriam Pinski, UCLA Fariba Siddiq, UCLA 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies N/A 2381 Public Affairs Building 11. Contract or Grant No. Los Angeles, CA 90095 USDOT Grant 69A3551747109 Caltrans Grant 65A0674, Task Order 010 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Caltrans DRISI Final report (Feb. 2019–Mar. 2020) 1727 30th Street, MS 82 14. Sponsoring Agency Code Sacramento, CA 95816 USDOT OST-R 15. Supplementary Notes Report URL: https://www.metrans.org/research/public-transportation-safety-among-university-students 16. Abstract This study focuses on the sexual harassment experiences of university students during their public transit journeys. We focus on university students because this group is typically more transit dependent than the general public, and possibly because of their age, more vulnerable to victimization from sexual harassment than other adults. Focusing on Los Angeles, we examine the transit safety concerns and sexual harassment experiences of students at three local universities: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), and California State University, Northridge (CSUN). We inquire how these experiences may vary by gender or other individual characteristics; how they affect the student choices about using transit; and what type of precautions and behavioral and travel adaptations students usually take. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Public transit; Students; Transportation safety; Public No restrictions. transportation; Safety and human factors; Safety 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 114 N/A Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized Acknowledgments This study was made possible through funding received by the University of California Institute of Transportation Studies from the State of California via the Public Transportation Account and the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (Senate Bill 1) and the Pacific Southwest Regional University Transportation Center (PSR UTC). The authors would like to thank the California Transit Association and the transit agencies and staff interviewees who participated in this project, as well as the university transportation departments at UCLA, California State University– Los Angeles, and California State University–Northridge. We are deeply thankful to all the students who spent the time to respond to our survey and provide their detailed and thoughtful responses. Without their input, this work would not exist. We are also very thankful to Mr. Bradley Mizuno, Division of Research Innovation and System Innovation, Caltrans and Ms. Christine Azevedo from the Planning, Policy, and Research Brand of Caltrans, who supervised our project. To the university partners, Penny Menton at UCLA Events and Transportation, Carmen Gachupin and Betina Cervantes at the CSU-LA Department of Public Safety, and Ken Premo at CSU-Northridge Associated Students, thank you for all your help administering the survey and the transportation support you provide to students every day. Lastly, we wish to thank Professor Vania Ceccato from the Royal Institute of Technology, who along with Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris directed the global project on sexual harassment in transit environments 18 cities. ii Public Transit Safety About the Pacific Southwest Region University Transportation Center The Pacific Southwest Region University Transportation Center (UTC) is the Region 9 University Transportation Center funded under the US Department of Transportation’s University Transportation Centers Program. Established in 2016, the Pacific Southwest Region UTC (PSR) is led by the University of Southern California and includes seven partners: Long Beach State University; University of California, Davis; University of California, Irvine; University of California, Los Angeles; University of Hawaii; Northern Arizona University; Pima Community College. The Pacific Southwest Region UTC conducts an integrated, multidisciplinary program of research, education and technology transfer aimed at improving the mobility of people and goods throughout the region. Our program is organized around four themes: 1) technology to address transportation problems and improve mobility; 2) improving mobility for vulnerable populations; 3) Improving resilience and protecting the environment; and 4) managing mobility in high growth areas. Disclaimers U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Disclaimer The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the information presented herein. This document is disseminated in the interest of information exchange. The report is funded, partially or entirely, by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s University Transportation Centers Program. However, the U.S. Government assumes no liability for the contents or use thereof. California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) Disclaimer The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the information presented herein. This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the United States Department of Transportation’s University Transportation Centers program, in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government and the State of California assumes no liability for the contents or use thereof. Nor does the content necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the U.S. Government and the State of California. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. This report does not constitute an endorsement by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) of any product described herein. iii Public Transit Safety Executive Summary Sexual harassment is a common occurrence in transit environments, and female passengers are the most likely victims. While a robust literature has examined the social and physical parameters of transit crime, we know less about the extent, type, sites, and socio-physical determinants of sexual harassment in transit environments, and even less about effective strategies. This study focuses on the sexual harassment experiences of university students during their public transit journeys. We focus on university students because this group is typically more transit dependent than the general public, and possibly because of their age, more vulnerable to victimization from sexual harassment than other adults. Focusing on Los Angeles, we examine the transit safety concerns and sexual harassment experiences of students at three local universities: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), and California State University, Northridge (CSUN). We inquire how these experiences may vary by gender or other individual characteristics; how they affect the student choices about using transit; and what type of precautions and behavioral and travel adaptations students usually take. This study explores these issues drawing from a survey of 1,284 students from the three aforementioned universities. Students with transit passes at these campuses received an online survey link to a questionnaire involving questions about their experiences with harassment on public transit, as well as their general concerns with bus and rail transit, their perceptions of safety, and their travel behavior patterns. Additionally, we conducted interviews with representatives of transit operators in the Los Angeles area to find out what actions they may take to tackle sexual harassment on their systems. Lastly, we reviewed the international literature for strategies and practices against harassment in transit environments. One motivation behind this study was to identify the possible solutions to the sexual harassment challenges that may affect the college students’ use of transit. We, therefore, conclude this study with policy recommendations on how to mitigate sexual harassment in transit environments. iv Public Transit Safety Major findings Sexual harassment in transit environments is very common. Indeed, 72% of respondents using the bus system and 48% of respondents using the rail system reported having experienced at least one sexual harassment behavior at a transit setting over the last three years. Sexual harassment affects primarily female students, but some male students are also affected. Significantly higher percentages of female than male students reported experiencing sexual harassment. A small number of transgender students
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