Survey Shows San Francisco Public Transit is Unsafe for Most.

Bay Area Residents Feel Unsafe on Public Transit, Survey Finds

According to a recent survey commissioned by the Bay Area Council, only 17% of Bay Area residents feel safe on local public transit. The survey also found that crime and homelessness are out of control in the system, with overwhelming majorities expressing concern about these issues.

Concerns About Safety and Cleanliness

The survey aimed to understand why Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) ridership remains below pre-pandemic levels. The results showed that the problem is less about remote work and more about widespread concerns about safety and cleanliness. 45% of local residents cited these issues as the main reason they don’t use BART, and 78% said they would ride more often if the trains and buses were cleaner and safer.

“As the BART goes, to some degree the Bay Area goes,” said Bay Area Council president Jim Wunderman. “So this is a serious situation.”

Residents’ Priorities

The survey could impact a push by California Democrats for a $5 billion bailout of the state’s public transit, which is facing a steep fiscal cliff. The poll found that Bay Area residents express relatively little interest in lower fares or expanded service for BART. Instead, their top priorities are cleanliness, ejecting violators, adding more police, and improving lighting. Residents overwhelmingly say agency officials fail to adequately address criminal activity and violence, drinking and drug use, and homelessness. 73% are worried about being the victims of crime when they ride BART.

When asked whether BART should focus on cleanliness, safety, and reliability or on helping the hundreds of homeless people in the system access support services, Bay Area residents support the former by more than two to one, according to the poll. This finding comes after San Francisco earmarked nearly $668 million for homeless programs and another $75 million for drug treatment services in the last fiscal year, only to see the problems intensify.

• Only 17% of Bay Area residents feel safe on local public transit
• 45% of local residents cited safety and cleanliness as the main reason they don’t use BART
• 78% said they would ride more often if the trains and buses were cleaner and safer
• Residents’ top priorities are cleanliness, ejecting violators, adding more police, and improving lighting
• 73% are worried about being the victims of crime when they ride BART

The survey’s findings could impact the push for a $5 billion bailout of California’s public transit, which is facing a steep fiscal cliff. While advocates of the bailout argue that public transit is essential for reducing carbon emissions and promoting equity, the poll found that Bay Area residents prioritize safety and cleanliness over lower fares or expanded service for BART.

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