Vertical Markets

London travel concerns

by Mark Rowe

The travel environment is passengers’ main concern, according to London TravelWatch. Pictured is Kings Cross station.

Two aspects in particular can deter transport users from making journeys by public transport and make non-users less willing to change their habits: anti-social behaviour (ASB) and overcrowding, especially during peak times. As for ASB, the report said: “Other passengers are reluctant to confront gangs due to fears of retaliation and the driver is assumed to not have the authority to take action or to be unwilling to do so due to the need to keep the bus running to a schedule.”

As for personal security, frequently raised in relation to some unnamed train and London Underground stations, the issue was less to do with the station itself and more to do with problems associated with the local area, according to the report. Travellers had security concerns if stations were away from a main road or houses or accessed via passages, subways or poorly lit car parks.

On CCTV

As for CCTV, participants assumed that most stations have CCTV cameras but this failed to allay concerns since there is no way of knowing whether the images are being monitored. Although footage from the cameras was expected to be a helpful source of evidence in the event of problems occurring, there was uncertainty about how effective the cameras are at preventing incidents.

Graffiti

As for graffiti, it was regarded as less of a problem, both because it is around less, and because some see it as an appropriate way to showcase artistic talent. However even those who were most receptive to it considered graffiti on vehicles to be unacceptable. “This was felt to demonstrate a lack of care or maintenance by the service provider that raises uncomfortable questions about depot security.” The vast majority of graffiti was considered to fall into the category of being non-artistic and was always thought to be objectionable. The main concern among passengers tends to be the associations created by this type of graffiti rather than its lack of visual appeal. Participants were worried that those responsible would be loitering at stations after dark. On balance, most were unable to condone graffiti; they considered it acts of vandalism.

Janet Cooke, Chief Executive of London TravelWatch said: ‘Some of the more serious forms of anti-social behaviour probably fall to the police to deal with but our report highlights a number of areas where progress can reasonably be expected from the transport industry – for example highlighting the presence of authority figures such as station staff, bus drivers and revenue protection inspectors. Measures to improve lighting and station design and extend CCTV coverage would also be welcomed by transport users.’

You can read the full study via the London Travelwatch or on this link – at http://www.railcommunitysafety.com.

Janet Cooke added: ‘We would also like operators to mitigate the over-crowding of services not only by using larger or more vehicles, but also by improving the usable space within vehicles for standing by providing more and better grab handles.’

The research also recommended that transport operators use a more pro-active approach to the issue of litter both on vehicles and at stations and stops, by using more ‘in service’ cleaners, more disposal bins and bags available; collection points for free newspapers for re-use by other passengers and better promotion of the amount of litter or rubbish on vehicles and at stations and stops is recycled.

In detail

In the report, the travel body makes the point that many of the actions regarded by passengers as anti-social behaviour [ASB] are not criminal in nature and are therefore a matter for operators to resolve rather than the police. “In these cases passengers want more visible and frequent operations by revenue protection inspectors (RPIs), and officers who perform a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) role such as Railway Enforcement and Travelsafe Officers. This is borne out by TfL’s [Transport for London] crime statistics bulletins which show that despite a decline in crime, passengers are still concerned.”

Buses and trams seem to have ASB more than National Rail or London Underground, the report suggested. While some complaints were about groups of young men, especially when it is obvious they had been drinking alcohol, ‘but more frequently the problem is linked to children travelling to or from school’. Swearing include racial abuse was complained about. “Participants also objected to what they perceived as the increasingly frequent habit of playing loud music from a mobile phone or other device, without using headphones, and even holding it against a window to amplify the sound.”

Littering was identified as being more of an issue for buses and trams than on National Rail or London Underground trains.

About London TravelWatch

London TravelWatch, set up by Parliament, is funded by and accountable to the London Assembly. Website: www.londontravelwatch.org.uk

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