Conclusion

The research, while not without limitations, shows that much needs to be done to improve the experience of women’s and girls’ personal safety when using public transport in Scotland. It shows that women and girls are already shouldering significant responsibility for adapting their behaviours to try to ‘be’ and to ‘feel’ safe when travelling on public transport, but that wider systemic change, supported by more practical interventions is required to enhance safety further and give women and girls a greater sense of freedom to maximise the opportunities afforded by public transport travel. The transport specific recommendations presented above must be accompanied by broader partnership action among those working in policing, education, equalities and aligned fields to help challenge wider stereotypes and systemic issues which lead to and compound women’s normalisation of the need for self-protection. A joined-up approach is required that involves operators, community safety stakeholders and the travelling public to increase their awareness of the challenges faced by women and girls, so that concerns can be proactively addressed and gender inequalities removed.

If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this report, or need to report an incident, further information and advice can be found online via Victim Support Scotland, the British Transport Police or via the free Railway Guardian app.