Designing Out Crime on Public Transport
 

Security of passengers was an important factor considered in the early planning phase of the Washington D.C. Metro (opened in 1976) and the designers incorporated a variety of crime prevention features into the design. These included:

• High arched ceilings to produce openness and reduce fear
• Spacious platforms to increase feelings of safety
• Long, straight escalators, to avoid mezzanines where criminals might lurk
• Overhead crossovers between platforms rather than dark frightening tunnels below the tracks
• Restful lighting designed not to cast alarming shadows
• Recessed platform walls and easily-cleaned surfaces for trains to discourage graffiti
• CCTV on platform and at entrances to facilitate surveillance by staff and to make passengers feel safe
• Two-way radios for all employees to summon help or be alerted
• Attendants at platform entrances to provide assistance to passengers, to monitor CCTV and to deter fare evaders
• Intercoms on trains and emergency phones throughout the stations
• Electronic fare cards that open gates at entrance and exit
• No restrooms as these facilitate prostitution or drug dealing.

These design features are reinforced by good management and policing practices:

• Clearly posted and stringently enforced rules regarding behaviour on the system (e.g. no smoking).
• Use of public address system to chastise rule violators
• All stations staffed during operating hours
• Services run to a tight schedule to minimise waiting times
• Number of carriages reduced during off-peak hours
• Clear signage and system maps
• System closed late night/early morning

• No advertisements allowed on platforms to avoid defacement
• No retailers allowed on the system, nor food or drink, to avoid litter

• Rapid repair of vandalism and graffiti.

In a detailed study, La Vigne (1997) found that crime rates on the Metro were much lower than in other comparable systems and were also much lower than in the communities served by the Metro.

The Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan is a huge, complex bus station with nine levels, handling approximately 7000 buses each day. In the late 1980s and early 1990s it was plagued by high levels of crime and disorder. The problems included prostitution, theft, drug-related offences and telephone fraud. One particularly severe problem was the presence of large numbers of homeless people loitering and even living at the terminal. The management of the terminal introduced, with little success, a series of traditional responses, such as increased policing. Then, in 1991 and 1992, the management undertook a major renovation of the facility. Among other things, this renovation was intended to reduce crime and disorder, and in particular, the numbers of homeless persons using the terminal.

A number of changes were made to the terminal to increase visibility and assist surveillance by staff, to discourage loitering, and to reduce opportunities for crime (Table 7).