Transit Crime and Sexual Violence in Cities

How cities are planned and designed has a major impact on individuals? mobility and safety. If individuals feel unsafe in public transportation or on the way to it, they may avoid certain routes or particular times of the day. This is problematic, since research has also found that, in some cities, especially those in the Global South, a large percentage of women are "transit captives". Namely, they have relatively less access to non-public forms of transportation and are, therefore, especially reliant on public transport. This issue is important not only because it affects people?s safety but also because it influences the long-term sustainability of a city. In a sustainable city, safety guarantees the ability to move freely for everyone and provides a wider sense of place attachment.

Transit Crime and Sexual Violence in Cities examines the evidence of victimization in transit environments in countries around the world, exploring individuals? feelings of perceived safety or lack thereof and the necessary improvements that can make transit safer and, hence, cities more sustainable. The book?s contributions are grounded in theories at the crossroads of several disciplines such as environmental criminology, architecture and design, urban planning, geography, psychology, gender and LGBTQI studies, transportation, and law enforcement. International case studies include Los Angeles, Vancouver, Stockholm, London, Paris, S?o Paulo, Mexico City, Bogotá, Tokyo, Guangzho, Melbourne, and Lagos, among others.

"This is a pioneering book that contributes to the understanding of power and sexual harassment overall. It visualizes the right to mobility and to safe spaces as crucial for work, education and participation in public life. "

"A much-needed source of literature that addresses an overlooked issue systematically on global scale. As indeed, this is not a "women?s issue", but a fair and standard urban and transport planning issue, an everyday mobility need, an essential service provision issue, a common sense, and simply a basic human right to be able to travel and do his/her activity safely and freely. A good reference for everyone who wishes to provide an inclusive, seamless, door-to-door journey, for everybody."

"This book comprehensively focuses on the horrendous impact of sexual harassment and assault in public transport on women students worldwide, highlighting an innovative set of parallel studies which reveal how much fear for their personal security affects the lives of these students and how little public officials have done to respond."

"The book is the product of critical reflection on current transit crime and sexual violence globally in both the Global North and Global South. Each piece seeks to characterize the dynamics of transit crime, in particular, sexual harassment and violence, from the perspective of those who are most targeted by these offences, namely young people and women. Focus is given to the relationship between safety and the types of environments that individuals are exposed to when they travel, which means that the book adopts a whole journey approach to safety."