Industry Insights: Women, Safety and the Bus & Coach Sector

Women, Safety and the Bus & Coach Sector: Listening, Learning, Improving

Safety on public transport is a shared responsibility, one that continues to evolve as we better understand passenger experience.

At a recent industry conference, data shared from Transport for London surveys reinforced what many operators, authorities and suppliers already recognise: women and girls experience public transport differently, particularly when it comes to personal safety.

The figures were sobering. Around 40% of women in London have chosen not to use public transport due to safety concerns, and around a third report feeling unsafe using public transport after dark - with even more feeling unsafe walking to and from stops. These concerns are not abstract: 88% of women reported experiencing unwanted behaviour on public transport in the last five years, with 56% of reported incidents taking place on buses, making them one of the most common settings for such issues.

Younger passengers were strongly represented too. 80% of girls aged 13+ reported experiencing unwanted sexual behaviour in this context, signalling a clear vulnerability among younger users navigating the network.

Beyond the personal impact, these experiences shape how and when and even IF people travel - for some, whether they choose public transport at all. For women, this can mean altered routes, avoidance of certain services, or even opting for costlier alternatives. On average, this results in around £500 per year in additional costs incurred by women avoiding routes they perceive as unsafe - a financial penalty directly linked to safety concerns. These behaviours carry wider implications for accessibility, inclusion and modal shift.

For us as an industry, the most important starting point is listening.

Creating safer public transport environments does not rely on one solution or one organisation. It relies on partnership between operators, transport authorities, vehicle manufacturers, technology providers and those who use the network every day.

By openly acknowledging these experiences, supporting clear reporting, and sharing insight across the sector, we can collectively inform better decisions - whether in operations, vehicle design, systems integration or future services. And, we can embrace other vulernerabilities that others may also be experiencing, when using this mode of transport.

At Ardent, we believe progress comes from collaboration. By working alongside our partners and supporting informed discussion, we can help contribute to public transport systems that people trust - not just to move them, but to support them.

Source: TfL survey data referenced at Confederation of Passenger Transport Annual Conference, 2026