News Clips 3-28-14

Today's Clips: 0 MARTA 1 Atlanta/Geor ia Transit/Transportation 2 National ! "nternational Transit/Transportation

MARTA #AGA-T$ % &'()* 03-2+-14 Cri,e down on MARTA trains* -.ses By Katie Beasley Link to video: http://bit.ly/1o7kpBD Do you feel safe on MARTA Mo!e than "1#$%%% passen&e!s use MARTA ea'h day and offi'e!s say '!i(e is do)n. A''o!din& to thei! !epo!ts$ felony '!i(es du!in& this fis'al yea! a!e do)n about 1% pe!'ent f!o( the yea! befo!e. *n the last ten yea!s$ &!ants and fundin& f!o( the Depa!t(ent of +o(eland ,e'u!ity have se!iously up&!aded safety on MARTA. -!o( 'a(e!as and K./ offi'e!s to s(a!t phone apps$ it0s 'lea! they0!e steppin& up thei! fo'us to t!y and keep you safe. At any MARTA station$ you0!e likely to see pat!ollin& MARTA poli'e offi'e!s. At 1d&e)ood$ Dia(ond Moseley !ides MARTA eve!y day$ 2Do you feel p!etty safe 2 Katie asks. 2,o fa!$ so &ood3 * haven0t had any bad e4pe!ien'es. * feel safe and * don0t have a p!oble( takin& MARTA to and f!o( )he!e *0ve &ot to &o$ so * think they0!e doin& a &ood 5ob )ith that.2 And !epo!ts sho)$ '!i(e is do)n ove! the last fis'al yea!. The la!&est de'!ease is in !obbe!y and a&&!avated assault !elated '!i(es. 2* think MARTA is one of the safest t!anspo!tation syste(s in the 'ount!y$2 believes MARTA 1(e!&en'y 6!epa!edness ,&t. Aston 7!eene. T!ansit se'u!ity &!ants have helped to up&!ade se'u!ity )ith K./ offi'e!s and su!veillan'e 'a(e!as. 2*n the last ten yea!s$ that kind of fundin& has helped to '!eate the laye!s of se'u!ity that )e en5oy no)$2 e4plains ,&t. 7!eene. 8ith ei&ht 'a(e!as inside the buses and th!ee (o!e outside the($ the!e !eally a!e eyes eve!y)he!e and (o!e 'a(e!as a!e 'o(in& fo! MARTA t!ains. By this ti(e ne4t yea!$ MARTA e4pe'ts to have 9%$%%% 'a(e!as syste( )ide$ addin& to othe! safety 'a(pai&ns p!o(oted by MARTA. 2:u! loyal 'usto(e!s kno) MARTA ve!y )ell and * think they like the kinds of thin&s like the 0Ride )ith Respe't0 'a(pai&n )hi'h seeks to eli(inate nuisan'e behavio! f!o( ou! t!ansit syste( and (ake you! t!ansit e4pe!ien'e even (o!e 'o(fo!table$2 adds ,&t. 7!eene.

Anothe! 'a(pai&n is the 0,ee ,o(ethin&$ ,ay ,o(ethin&0 app that 'onne'ts !ide!s di!e'tly )ith t!ansit poli'e. 2;ou 'an a'tually take a pi'tu!e$ you 'an send a te4t and that &oes !i&ht to a live pe!son )ho 'an 'o((uni'ate )ith you and befo!e you &et to you! ne4t stop$ you0ll a'tually see the !esults$2 says ,&t. Aston 7!eene. 2* use it to basi'ally t!a'k the ti(e and distan'e of )he!e * have to &o.. and it0s ve!y useful$2 adds Dia(ond. MARTA also has a bus (a!shal p!o&!a($ a lot like ai! (a!shals$ )he!e an offi'e! )ill be !idin& the bus unde!'ove!. <ust this )eek they held thei! fi!st eve! =1RT &!aduation$ a &!oup of t!ained and info!(ed voluntee! 'usto(e!s that no) 'an a't in the 'ase of an e(e!&en'y. ,&t. 7!eene says the!e0s a lot of e(phasis put on t!ainin& and full s'ale e4e!'ises ea'h yea!. +e says$ they don0t )ant to 5ust )ait fo! so(ethin& to happen$ they0d !athe! think about the )o!st 'ase s'ena!io and have a plan al!eady in pla'e. And speakin& of MARTA$ a ne) app )e int!odu'ed you to last yea!$ is finally up and !unnin&. ,tudents and fa'ulty at 7eo!&ia Te'h have laun'hed the 2:ne Bus A)ay2 s(a!tphone app. They say studies sho) MARTA !ide!ship is do)n$ be'ause of in'onsisten'ies )ith )ait ti(es. 2:ne Bus A)ay2 uses live info!(ation$ pulled f!o( MARTA$ to (ap out you! t!ip and tell you ho) lon& you should plan to )ait. The app )as fi!st desi&ned in ,eattle and hopes to take the &uess)o!k out of !idin& the bus. Desi&ne!s also say kno)in& e4a'tly )hat ti(e to e4pe't the bus$ (akes !ide!s feel safe!.

#A/0 % 1021* 03-2+-14 ARC Appro3es &.ndin 4or Atlanta 5treet6ar and MARTA ",pro3e,ents By <onathon ,hapi!o Listen: http://bit.ly/1!K1i&! *t>s 'alled the 6LA? 9%"% Re&ional T!anspo!tation 6lan. *t lays out the AR=>s t!anspo!tation p!io!ities fo! the ne4t 9# yea!s. The AR= boa!d app!oved an update to the plan 8ednesday. *t 'o((its @#/ billion to va!ious t!anspo!tation p!o5e'ts. Most of the funds &o to basi' upkeep$ but about a thi!d is fo! ne) p!o5e'ts. :ve! the ne4t fe) yea!s$ the Atlanta ,t!eet'a!$ due to be&in ope!ation this su((e!$ )ill &et @1#.9 (illion. A:u! inte!est as the !e&ional plannin& a&en'y is to p!ovide !esidents of the !e&ion )ith (o!e options fo! (ovin& about so not eve!yone has to &et in thei! 'a!$B said AR= spokes)o(an 7!a'e T!i(ble. Alon& those lines$ MARTA )ill also &et about @1# (illion to i(p!ove !ail line f!eCuen'y and 'onve!t so(e of thei! buses f!o( diesel to (o!e effi'ient natu!al &as. :ve!all$ (u'h of the plan>s fundin& fo! ne) p!o5e'ts is ai(ed at easin& 'on&estion on !oad)ays. The p!o5e'ts in'lude ne) toll lanes alon& *.7# e4tendin& no!th to =he!okee =ounty and south to M'Donou&h$ as )ell as t)o dive!&in& dia(ond inte!'han&es D one at 1.7# and 8indy +ill Road$ the se'ond at *.9E# and =a(p =!eek 6a!k)ay.

#A/0 % 1021* 03-2+-14 MARTA 7nion &r.strated '3er Contra6t Ne otiations And C0''s 8a69 o4 :arti6ipation By <onathon ,hapi!o Listen: http://bit.ly/1!K9/4v MARTA>s e(ployee union is f!ust!ated ove! on&oin& 'ont!a't ne&otiations )ith (ana&e(ent as )ell as an e4pe'ted 'han&e to the 'olle'tive ba!&ainin& p!o'ess. =u!tis +o)a!d is p!esident of the A(al&a(ated T!ansit Fnion Lo'al 7G9$ )hi'h !ep!esents about G$9%% of MARTA>s "$%%% o! so )o!ke!s. +e says ne&otiations on a ne) labo! a&!ee(ent )ith (ana&e(ent a!e d!a&&in&. 2He!y f!ust!ated that they )on>t put so(ethin& on the table that>s )o!th us (ovin& fo!)a!d$2 said +o)a!d. The last 'ont!a't$ )hi'h )as fo! th!ee yea!s$ ended in 9%1G but stays in effe't until the!e>s a ne) a&!ee(ent. ?e&otiations have been on&oin& sin'e last yea!$ but +o)a!d says it>s been tou&h to &et any)he!e. +e says pa!t of the !eason is MARTA =1: Keith 6a!ke! isn>t pe!sonally at the table. *nstead$ MARTA 'ont!a'ted a spe'ial ne&otiato!. +o)a!d 'o(plains this )asn>t so(ethin& the union had to deal )ith unde! Beve!ly ,'ott$ MARTA>s p!evious 'hief. 2They don>t even have thei! people ne&otiatin& )ith us$2 said +o)a!d. 2MARTA hi!ed a hi!ed &un to 'o(e in and sit at the table )ith us. Bev ,'ott sat at the table )ith us. 6a!ke!>s not at the table )ith us.B Most e4pe'ted these 'ont!a't ne&otiations to be diffi'ult. 6a!ke!$ )ho took ove! in late 9%19$ has pled&ed to i(ple(ent s)eepin& 'han&es ai(ed at puttin& the t!ansit a&en'y on stable finan'ial &!ound. +e publi'ly has suppo!ted a 'ont!ove!sial !epo!t f!o( a 'onsultin& fi!( !e'o((endin& p!ivatiIin& pa!t of the a&en'y$ !edu'in& the )o!kfo!'e$ and 'uttin& e(ployee health and pension benefits. 6a!ke! )ouldn>t !espond di!e'tly to +o)a!d>s 'o((ents. +e says he )on>t ne&otiate a labo! 'ont!a't th!ou&h the (edia.

2?o (atte! )hat thin&s 'o(e up in dis'ussions$ (y 5ob a&ain is to (ake su!e that eve!y e(ployee has the best )a&e and benefit pa'ka&e that )e 'an possibly affo!d to &!ant the( )hile of 'ou!se al)ays keepin& in (ind ou! 'usto(e!s and ou! ability to b!in& thin&s fo!)a!d that ulti(ately )ill be sustainable.2 6a!ke! did say he suppo!ts a bill !e'ently app!oved by state la)(ake!s that 'han&es a pa!t of the 'olle'tive ba!&ainin& p!o'ess D a 'han&e the union has blasted as puttin& )o!ke!s at a disadvanta&e in on&oin& 'ont!a't ne&otiations. Fnde! the bill$ )hi'h still (ust be app!oved by the &ove!no!$ labo! disputes )ould be settled by a 5ud&e !eCui!ed to 'onside! MARTA>s lon&.te!( bud&et plan. That0s diffe!ent f!o( the 'u!!ent p!o'ess )hi'h 'alls fo! an a!bit!ato! appointed by the &ove!no!. +o)a!d said MARTA (ana&e(ent$ )ith the help of state la)(ake!s$ is 2sta'kin& the de'k2 a&ainst )o!ke!s. 2,tate statute )ould tell Jthe 5ud&eK that he0d have to look at )hateve! nu(be!s MARTA put up the!e and (ake his de'ision on it$2 said +o)a!d. 2An a!bit!ato! )ould look at thin&s f!o( a (o!e neut!al pe!spe'tive. +e has no politi'al ties to the 'o(pany no! the union. +e (akes a de'ision by the fa'ts and )alks a)ay.2 0 1

2 Atlanta/Geor ia Transit/Transportation Gwinnett ;aily :ost* 03-2+-14 GC 5,art Co,,.te we-site .p raded By =a(ie ;oun& 7)innett 'o((ute!s 'an &et a bette! vie) of t!affi'$ th!ou&h so(e updates to 7)innett>s 7= ,(a!t =o((ute p!o&!a(. *n addition to ne) t!affi' 'a(e!as fo! the &!o)in& syste($ 7)innett t!anspo!tation offi'ials have also &iven a ne) look to the )ebsite$ )hi'h allo)s people to sele't individual 'a(e!a vie)s f!o( a (ap display and vie) up.to.date snapshots of t!affi' 'onditions. The 'ounty p!o&!a( 'ove!s (a5o! a!te!ial !oads and inte!se'tions )ith 1EE 'losed.'i!'uit 'a(e!as alon& 1EL (iles of fibe!.opti' 'o(uni'ation 'able. Anothe! EE 'a(e!as f!o( 7eo!&ia D:T>s (a5o!! !outes p!ovide additional 'ove!a&e$ )hi'h is available online 9" hou!s a day at ))).&'s(a!t'o((ute.'o(. TH7)innett$ the 'ounty>s 'able television 'hannel$ b!oad'asts live video feeds du!in& )eekday !ush hou!s$ f!o( L:G% to E:G% a.(. and " to L p.(. A8e>!e &lad to offe! (o!e info!(ation fo! !esidents th!ou&h 7= ,(a!t =o((ute$B 7)innett T!anspo!tation Di!e'to! Ki( =on!oy said. AThanks to these enhan'e(ents$ 7)innett (oto!ists 'an use 7= ,(a!t =o((ute to 'usto(iIe )hat they see based on thei! intended t!avel !outes and plan a''o!din&ly.B :ffi'ials !e'ently up&!aded the )ebsite to allo) ne4t and p!evious buttons on )ebsite snapshots$ allo)in& (oto!ists to vie) 'onditions on spe'ifi' !outes. The 'han&e )as !eCuested by 'o((ute!s hopin& to plan thei! 'o((utes befo!e leavin& ho(e o! the offi'e$ a p!ess !elease said. =!e)s a!e 'u!!ently )o!kin& to install 1L additional 'a(e!a lo'ations$ and plans 'all fo! G" (o!e ove! the ne4t t)o yea!s$ offi'ials said.

National ! "nternational Transit/Transportation T<e Nation* 03-2+-14 3 #ays :.-li6 Transportation Ma9es 8i4e /etter 4or :retty M.6< 03eryone By Kat!ina vanden +euvel A''o!din& to the A(e!i'an 6ubli' T!anspo!tation Asso'iation$ A(e!i'ans a!e usin& publi' t!anspo!tation (o!e today than at any othe! ti(e sin'e 1/#L. 6ubli' t!ansit p!ovided 1%.7 billion individual !ides last yea!$ a 1.1 pe!'ent in'!ease ove! 9%19 and the latest upti'k fo! an indust!y that has seen a G7.9 pe!'ent in'!ease in !ide!ship sin'e 1//#. This is so(ethin& to '!o) about. Mo!e than (ost pla'esMthe &!o'e!y sto!e$ shoppin& 'ente!$ basketball a!enaM publi' t!ansit has lon& p!ovided an a!ena fo! so'ial 'han&e in the Fnited ,tates. Last yea!$ on the fiftieth annive!sa!y of the Ma!'h on 8ashin&ton$ ,e'!eta!y of T!anspo!tation Anthony -o44 !efle'ted$ I cant help but think of the historic connection between transportation and the civil rights movement. Literally or figuratively, transportation has played a role throughout the history of our nations progress toward civil rights. And it still does. When escaped slaves sought their freedom, they traveled on the nderground !ailroad. In the mid"#$%&s, a young woman who sat down and refused to get up'she did it on a transit bus. And the boycott of the (ontgomery, Alabama, bus system resulted in changes that spread across the )outh. *he +ivil !ights (ovement was about all Americans having access to the same opportunities. And our transportation system connects people to those opportunities., Re(a!kable )o!ds f!o( a 'abinet (e(be! )ho !e'o&niIes that his pu!vie) e4tends fa! beyond !oads$ !ails$ and !un)ays. ,e'!eta!y -o44 &ets that ho) )e (oveMthe (ode of t!anspo!tation )e 'hoose$ the !oute )e take$ and the fello) t!avele!s )e en'ounte! alon& the )ayM'a!!ies fa!.!ea'hin& i(pli'ations$ espe'ially fo! ou! e'ono(y$ envi!on(ent$ and fo!ei&n poli'y. +e!e a!e th!ee: -ublic transportation helps combat climate change . A p!ivate auto p!odu'es %./L pounds of 'a!bon dio4ide pe! passen&e!.(ile$ )hile publi' t!ansit Nave!a&ed out a(on& bus$ heavy !ail$ li&ht !ail$ 'o((ute! !ail$ and van poolsO yields %."# pounds pe! passen&e!.(ile. The 16A esti(ates that publi' t!anspo!t saves A(e!i'a G7 (illion (et!i' tons of 'a!bon dio4ide e(issions pe! yea!Mthis is eCuivalent to the e(issions !esultin& f!o( the ele't!i'ity &ene!ated f!o( "./

(illion households$ o! eve!y household in 8ashin&ton$ D.=.$ ?e) ;o!k =ity$ Atlanta$ Denve!$ and Los An&eles 'o(bined. And publi' t!anspo!tation saves the F.,. ".9 billion &allons of &asoline eve!y yea!$ (o!e than t!iple the a(ount of &as )e !efine f!o( oil i(po!ted f!o( Ku)ait. -ublic transportation creates .obs and promotes economic growth . 1ve!y @1 billion invested in the F.,. t!anspo!tation inf!ast!u'tu!e suppo!ts and '!eates so(e "7$#%% 5obs. That billion.dolla! invest(ent also leads to a net &ain in 7D6 of @G.# billion. Businesses lo'ated nea! publi' t!anspo!tation se!vi'es see i(p!oved p!odu'tivity th!ou&h bette! e(ployee !eliability and less absenteeis( and tu!nove!. ,in'e publi' t!anspo!t allo)s (o!e people (o!e a''ess to (o!e 5obs$ e(ploye!s have la!&e!$ (o!e dive!se labo! pools f!o( )hi'h to d!a) )o!ke!s$ )hi'h leads to yet anothe! i(p!ove(ent in 'o((unity effi'ien'y and p!ospe!ity. -ublic transportation is healthier. Lon&$ t!affi'.'hoked 'o((utes a!e linked to obesity and 'h!oni' pain$ to divo!'e and dep!ession. *nte!estin&ly$ adoptin& a publi'.t!anspo!tation habit also spu!s othe! healthy lifestyle 'hoi'es$ su'h as in'!eased e4e!'ise and i(p!oved diet. ;et so(eho)$ despite its p!oven p!o(ises of a 'leane! envi!on(ent$ a (o!e !obust e'ono(y$ a healthie! popula'e$ et'.$ suppo!t fo! publi' t!anspo!tation !e(ains anythin& but a no.b!aine!. Last De'e(be!$ =on&!ess de'lined to !ene) the publi'.t!ansit ta4 '!edit$ )hi'h had allo)ed A(e!i'ans to set aside @9"#$ p!e.ta4$ fo! use on publi' t!ansit. This yea!$ the '!edit d!opped to 5ust @1G% M)hile the ta4 '!edit that 'o((ute!s 'an set aside to pay fo! pa!kin& a'tually in'!eased. Last (onth$ 6!esident :ba(a p!oposed a @G%9 billion -ou!.;ea! T!anspo!tation Reautho!iIation Bill$ )hi'h ea!(a!ks @79 billion fo! publi' t!anspo!tation. Also in'luded is a @9.L billion allo'ation fo! bus !apid t!ansit syste(s in !apidly &!o)in& !e&ions a'!oss the 'ount!y$ as )ell as an additional @"%% (illion to be used to Aenhan'e the siIe$ dive!sity$ and skills of ou! nation>s 'onst!u'tion )o!kfo!'e$ )hile p!ovidin& suppo!t fo! lo'al hi!in& effo!ts and en'ou!a&in& ,tates to use thei! :n.the.<ob t!ainin& funds (o!e effe'tively.B 8e need to 'ontinue to fund and p!o(ote publi' t!anspo!tation. As ,e'!eta!y -o44 pointed out in his Ma!'h on 8ashin&ton !efle'tion$ AJFKnfo!tunately$ t!anspo!tation also has a histo!y of dividin& us. *n (any pla'es$ !ail!oads have se!ved to identify people )ho )e!e livin& on Pthe )!on& side of the t!a'ks.> And !a!ely in the last 'entu!y did an u!ban inte!state hi&h)ay plo) th!ou&h a nei&hbo!hood that )asn>t 'ha!a'te!iIed as poo!.B 8e 'an use publi' t!anspo!tation to (iti&ate ineCuality$ to i(p!ove the envi!on(ent$ to develop te'hnolo&i'ally and e'ono(i'ally3 it puts (o!e of us on the !i&ht side of the t!a'ks. Let>s keep this t!end &oin&.

Atlanti6 Cities* 03-2+-14 #ill #o,en 03er &eel Co,pletely 5a4e 'n Mass Transit= By Ann -!ied(an ,o(e)he!e in a (a5o! A(e!i'an 'ity$ eve!y ,atu!day ni&ht$ a )o(an tells he! f!iends that she0s about to leave a pa!ty. Alone. 8hethe! she0s &oin& to take the sub)ay$ o! head to the bus stop$ o! si(ply )alk$ if it0s afte! (idni&ht a fello) pa!ty&oe! )ill al(ost al)ays pull out a phone and say$ 2?o$ no. Let (e 'all you a 'ab.2 +e! f!iends a!e &enuinely 'on'e!ned fo! he! safety$ and often that 'on'e!n is )a!!anted. But it0s also a si&n that 'e!tain 'lasses of 'ity d)elle!s M the ones )ho 'an affo!d i6hones and the o''asional 'ab !ide M si(ply a''ept that publi' spa'es$ espe'ially at ni&ht$ a!e pla'es )he!e )o(en 'an0t e4pe't to feel safe. *0ve )at'hed this 2'all a 'ab2 inte!a'tion doIens of ti(es$ and neve! thou&ht of it in te!(s of b!oade! t!ends in publi' t!ansit !ide!ship. Ride!ship on F.,. publi' t!anspo!tation has !ea'hed its hi&hest levels Nin !a) nu(be!s$ at leastO sin'e the (id.1/#%s. The!e0s a 'o(ple4 set of e4planations fo! this !esu!&en'e$ but a bi& pa!t of it boils do)n to (oney. 8hen the 'ost of d!ivin& &ets too hi&h$ o! )hen &as p!i'es &et too unp!edi'table$ (o!e people take the t!ain o! the bus. And so (ost A(e!i'an t!ansit !ide!s tend to be lo)e!.in'o(e. They also tend to be )o(en$ )ho of 'ou!se )o!k in lo)e!.paid 5obs. A(e!i'an )o(en of all ethni'ities a''ounted fo! a&!eate! sha!e of t!ansit t!ips than (en in 1//7 Nbelo)O3 fa! (o!e !e'ent 'o((utin& fi&u!es sho) a si(ila! b!eakdo)n$ )ith 11" )o(en takin& t!ansit to )o!k fo! eve!y 1%% (en. *n (any 'ases$ these a!e the )o(en )ho take publi' t!ansit be'ause it0s the only finan'ially viable option.

28o(en ove!all a!e (o!e dependent on t!ansit than (en$ fo! lo).in'o(e households in pa!ti'ula!$2 says Anastasia Loukaitou.,ide!is$ an u!ban plannin& p!ofesso! at F=LA. 2*f the!e is one 'a!$ it0s (ost often the (an )ho d!ives the 'a!.2 8o(en )ho a!en0t bound to the bus by e'ono(i' ne'essity 'ite !eliability and 'onvenien'e as !easons they 'hoose to sti'k )ith thei! 'a!s. That0s (o!e o! less )hat (en say. But )o(en$ !e&a!dless of in'o(e$ tend to have an additional fa'to!: safety. *n a 9%%7 su!vey$ LG pe!'ent of ?e) ;o!k =ity sub)ay !ide!s said they0d been ha!assed on a t!ain$ and 1% pe!'ent !epo!ted havin& been assaulted. *t see(s safe to assu(e that (ost of those !ide!s )e!e )o(en. A(on& those )ho (e!ely )itnessed ha!ass(ent o! assault on publi' t!ansit$ /G pe!'ent !epo!ted that the vi'ti( )as fe(ale. *t0s no )onde! the!e0s a &ende! &ap )hen it 'o(es to t!ansit !ide!s0 'on'e!ns. But the!e0s also a &ende!.'lass &ap$ bet)een the )o(en )ho 'an si(ply !efuse to !ide be'ause of those 'on'e!ns and those )ho have to &et on the bus any)ay. 28o(en tend to be (o!e fea!ful in publi' envi!on(ents like the bus stop than )hen they0!e on the bus o! on the t!ain$2 says Loukaitou.,ide!is. This (akes sense: on the bus the!e a!e often othe! t!avele!s$ but at the bus stop you (i&ht be alone. 1ven then the!e a!e e4'eptions3 late at ni&ht$ a )o(an (i&ht find he!self on the t!ain )ith only one othe! passen&e! she doesn0t t!ust$ 5ust the t)o of the( in an en'losed spa'e. This is all too fa(ilia!. * 'an pi'tu!e the (any un'o(fo!table sub)ay !ides *0ve had in (y life. *0( 5ust as ne!vous bein& stu'k in a sub)ay 'a! )ith only one o! t)o othe! people than * a( in a pa'ked sub)ay 'a! )he!e the!e0s the th!eat of bein& anony(ously &!oped. The 'ity * 'all ho(e$ Los An&eles$ has a(ple buses and t!ains. * take the( at peak ti(es$ )hen they0!e likely to be (o!e '!o)ded. But late at ni&ht$ they tend to be p!etty e(pty. *f * kno) *0( &oin& to be out late$ * al(ost al)ays opt to d!ive (yself o! take a 'ab. These 'on'e!ns often don0t sho) up in su!veys of t!ansit !ide!s. The bus o! the sub)ay is 2this uniCue publi' spa'e$2 says =a(ille -ink$ a senio! edito! at the A(e!i'an 6lannin& Asso'iation )ho 'o(piled a visual ethno&!aphi' !epo!t on L.A. buses. 2=ensus data doesn0t tell us ho) )o(en a!e e4pe!ien'in& those spa'es. -o! )o(en the!e a!e issues of safety and pe!sonal spa'e. *t0s ha!d then to (ake a 'onne'tion bet)een ho) it affe'ts the t!avel de'isions they0!e (akin&.2 But the!e is definitely a 'onne'tion$ says Loukaitou.,ide!is. 2A nu(be! of J)o(enK pe!'eive the p!ivate auto(obile as the safest (ode of t!anspo!tation$ so they )ill save (oney to t!y to buy an auto(obile$2 she says$ 2o! !est!i't thei! a'tivity to 'e!tain ti(es of day to not have to take publi' t!ansit at ni&ht.2 As 'ities t!y to fi&u!e out ho) to boost t!ansit !ide!ship$ and unp!edi'table &as

p!i'es fo!'e people to !e'onside! thei! 'o((ute$ the th!eat of ha!ass(ent and assault has been &!anted su!p!isin&ly little ai!ti(e. But sho!t of solvin& the )idesp!ead so'ietal p!oble(s of ha!ass(ent and se4is( M a tall o!de! fo! even the (ost 'o((itted a'tivist M the!e a!e pie'e(eal solutions 'ities 'an unde!take to 'onvey to )o(en that they 'a!e about thei! safety on publi' t!anspo!tation. ,eve!al 'ities have a'tively dis'ou!a&ed ha!ass(ent on buses and t!ains )ith 'a(pai&ns that send the (essa&e su'h behavio! isn0t tole!ated. *n 9%%E$ t!ansit autho!ities in Boston '!eated a se!ies of 6,As ta!&etin& )ould.be sub)ay &!ope!s. 2Rub a&ainst (e and *0ll e4pose you$2 the ads !ead. They )e!e late! adopted by t!ansit offi'ials in =hi'a&o$ ?e) ;o!k$ and 8ashin&ton$ D.=. *n all of these 'ities$ the 6,As )e!e !olled out alon& )ith easie! )ays fo! )o(en to !epo!t ha!ass(ent and assault. Many of the ads en'ou!a&ed )o(en to take a photo of the pe!pet!ato! )ith thei! 'ellphone 'a(e!a and sub(it it to autho!ities. *n the fi!st yea!$ the!e )as a hu&e spike in ha!ass(ent !epo!tin& in Boston. The nu(be! of &!opin& 'o(plaints in'!eased by nea!ly 7" pe!'ent and the nu(be! of a!!ests fo! inde'ent assault and batte!y )ent up E# pe!'ent. *n a boon to t!ansit !ide!s of all &ende!s$ 'ities 'ould also 'o((it to p!ovidin& !eliable info!(ation on )hen the ne4t t!ain o! bus is a!!ivin&. ?o one likes to )ait a!ound fo! the bus in the 'old$ o! s)eat it out on a sub)ay platfo!( in the heat of su((e!. But fo! )o(en$ su'h )aits a!e un'o(fo!table fo! othe! !easons$ too. 28o(en ve!y (u'h )ould like to have !eal.ti(e info fo! buses$2 Loukaitou. ,ide!is says. 2The 'ity of 6o!tland has that$ )he!e you &o to the bus stop and you 'an see )hen the ne4t bus is a!!ivin&.2 ,he sees apps like ?e4t Bus as a &ood sta!t$ but notes that 'ity t!ansit autho!ities have to 'oope!ate fully in o!de! fo! the( to !eally )o!k. :ne of the (ost publi'iIed solutions to )o(en0s 'on'e!ns about publi' t!ansit has been the '!eation of &ende!.se&!e&ated sub)ay 'a!s in 'ount!ies like <apan$ Me4i'o$ and *ndia. But the!e isn0t (u'h eviden'e to su&&est these )o(en.only 'a!s have add!essed the bi&.pi'tu!e 'on'e!ns )o(en have )ith publi' t!ansit. Afte! all$ buses and t!ain 'a!s a!e 'onfined publi' spa'es that !efle't the p!oble(s )o(en have else)he!e in so'iety. 2:ve!all$ * did not find publi' t!ansit as a (o!e dan&e!ous settin& than )alkin& on the st!eet o! in othe! pa!ts of the 'ity$2 says Loukaitou.,ide!is. 8hile that (ay be &ood ne)s to t!ansit offi'ials$ it p!obably )on0t p!ovide (u'h 'o(fo!t to )o(en$ )ho a!e &oin& to 'ontinue to eithe! 'all a 'ab o! (uste! thei! 'ou!a&e and head to the bus stop.

#as<in ton :ost* 03-2>-14 Cellp<one* -i6y6le t<e4ts rise in Metro syste,* report says By 6aul Du&&an Met!o !ide!s )e!e vi'ti(iIed by 'ellphone and bi'y'le thieves (o!e often last yea! than in 9%19$ but the nu(be! of auto(obile thefts on Met!o p!ope!ty de'lined$ as did pi'kpo'ketin&$ the t!ansit a&en'y says. =allin& Met!o>s buses and sub)ay t!ains Aa ta!&et.!i'h envi!on(entB fo! snat'h. and.!un thefts$ t!ansit 6oli'e =hief Ronald A. 6avlik <!. said in a !epo!t to the a&en'y>s boa!d of di!e'to!s that Athe p!evalen'e of po!table ele't!oni' devi'es$ pa!ti'ula!ly i6hones$ ove! the last five yea!s has (ade the '!i(e of theft/snat'h sky!o'ket.B The!e )e!e L"G snat'h thefts in the Met!o syste( last yea!$ /% pe!'ent of )hi'h involved 'ellphones$ 'o(pa!ed )ith "/1 snat'h thefts in 9%19$ a''o!din& to the !epo!t$ )hi'h )ill be p!esented to boa!d (e(be!s Thu!sday. AThe pe!pet!ato!s a!e p!edo(inantly youn& (en a'tin& alone$B it says. AAbout t)o.thi!ds of the vi'ti(s a!e )o(en.B 6avlik said in the !epo!t that t!ansit poli'e have been usin& A(ultiple st!ate&ies to dete! snat'hes on both !ail and bus$B in'ludin& A'!i(e.supp!ession tea(s$ dist!ibution of '!i(e.p!evention lite!atu!e$ station announ'e(ents JandK e4te!nal (edia (essa&es$B u!&in& !ide!s to hold onto thei! devi'es ti&htly. Mo!e violent thefts$ defined as !obbe!ies$ also in'!eased$ f!o( GG7 in 9%19 to "G9 last yea!$ the !epo!t says. AMany !obbe!ies involve the takin& of a 'ellphone$B 6avlik noted$ Aand a!e usually divided f!o( 'lassifi'ation as a theft.snat'h be'ause of a st!u&&le bet)een the vi'ti( and the suspe't.B Last yea!$ A)e ave!a&ed a little (o!e than one !obbe!y pe! day$B he )!ote. AAl(ost 7% pe!'ent of !obbe!ies o''u! )ithin the Dist!i't of =olu(bia. The ove!)hel(in& (a5o!ity of suspe'ts a!e youn& (en unde! the a&e of 9# yea!s old. :ve! L% pe!'ent of the vi'ti(s a!e also youn& (en.B Mean)hile$ the nu(be! of bi'y'le thefts on Met!o p!ope!ty !ose f!o( GG% in 9%19 to "11 last yea!$ a 9" pe!'ent in'!ease$ a''o!din& to the !epo!t. 6avlik said t!ansit poli'e Aa!e usin& 'asual.'lothes offi'e!s to p!ovide su!veillan'e of bi'y'le !a'ksB and assi&nin& Ata!&eted unifo!(ed pat!olsB to spe'ifi' sub)ay stations$ based on theft t!ends. A8e dist!ibuted lite!atu!e and bi'y'le lo'ks at seve!al out!ea'h events$B the 'hief said in the !epo!t. A*n addition$ )e pa!tne!ed )ith othe! Jt!ansit a&en'y divisionsK to i(p!ove bike !a'k se'u!ity by installin& (o!e !a'ks at identified stations$

!e(ovin& abandoned bi'y'les and 'onst!u'tin& a se'u!ed bike 'a&e at the =olle&e 6a!k station.B The ne)s )as bette! in Met!o pa!kin& lots and &a!a&es$ )he!e the nu(be! of auto(obile thefts de'lined to 1E9 last yea!$ 'o(pa!ed )ith 9EE the yea! befo!e$ a''o!din& to the !epo!t. AMoto! vehi'le thefts a!e at (o!e than a 1%.yea! lo)$B 6avlik )!ote. A*t is not su!p!isin& that (oto! vehi'le thefts and atte(pts have de'!eased si&nifi'antly ove! the last fe) yea!s )ith the sophisti'ation of vehi'le onboa!d se'u!ity.B As fo! pi'kpo'ketin&$ the!e )e!e #E in'idents last yea!$ 199 fe)e! than the yea! befo!e.