Improving public transport security using technological tools

Summary

Encouraging people to opt for public transport rather than the private car involves improving the quality of public transport services and ensuring greater security for passengers.

Implementing sustainable mobility

The measure was based on a decision contained in the Local Safety Plan approved in 1998, which covered three main issues:

• rapid intervention in the event of problems, managed via GPS location equipment together with higher numbers of personnel in the metro and on the buses;
• cooperation and improved communication between the public transport operators, the police and the courts; and
• evaluation and follow-up, with the corresponding improvements.
   

Progress

A GPS radio contact system was installed in the transport operator’s emergency vehicles (emergency call-out bus and car) and with the police service in order to shorten emergency call-out times to a maximum of 10 minutes.

Personnel numbers were increased on all vehicles in the public transport system.

GPS location equipment was installed on public transport vehicles, permitting the emergency services to intervene earlier, improving the operating system and making real-time information available to passengers on board the vehicles. The system was also used to allow buses priority at junctions.
 

Outcomes

Following implementation of the measure feelings of security among bus and tram passengers improved, although feelings of security fell slightly on the metro. Among surveyed passengers, the installation of surveillance cameras was regarded as an effective way of ensuring security and preventing vandalism.

Almost 90 percent of passengers judged the efforts carried out to be effective. The majority of passengers value the presence of staff in uniform on public transport vehicles, partly to improve feelings of safety, and partly as a source of information.
 

This fact sheet has been updated by a third party on the basis of available information (not by the city itself), therefore we do not guarantee any data with respect to their content, completeness or up-to-dateness.