How to Safely Navigate Public Transportation in Nashville

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Jan. 26, 2024 | by: Solaren Risk Management

Tips on How to Safely Navigate Public Transportation

Nashville is not the only city in the country with a vital and extensive public transit system. The bus is the most common form of public transportation in America according to the Department of Transportation. This also means that crime events are more likely to occur on and near buses since they are so common.

According to the Department of Transportation, there were 6.19 billion trips on public transit buses in 2022 in the U.S. alone. That is 6.19 billion opportunities for an assault or theft as they are the most common crime events in public transportation according to Statista. Their Research Department collected data from 2019 through 2021 showing the number of crime events ranked by type and, excluding the significant drop in ridership in 2020, there was a significant increase in criminal activity from 2019 to 2021. What does this mean for passengers?

We have five safety tips from experts that can help passengers ride safer in their city.

The first tip is to stay aware and alert of your surroundings as this can be the most effective way to stay safe in a public space. Not only is it important to be aware in crowded environments, but isolated ones as you become easier to approach and therefore an easier target. To avoid being approached by someone intending to do you harm or cause a disturbance, it is best to stay visible. Stand under a light source or in front of a business so that there are plenty of potential witnesses.

The second tip is to keep your personal items close so that there is less of a risk of theft. Being that robbery and theft are the second most common crime events on buses, it is best to ensure that you can see your belongings at all times. When your bag is out of sight, it becomes an easy target.

On the topic of theft, another tip to ensure you avoid this situation is to stay away from the doors. Snatch-and-grab thefts can occur when you are near an exit where the thief does not even have to be on the bus and you will be unable to stop them. Thieves always prefer an easy escape route and that is the perfect opportunity for one.

The fourth tip is to know your route. This familiarity with where you are going helps you look less lost and confused while ensuring you can navigate the system quickly and efficiently. An easy way to either get lost or get robbed is to wander in unfamiliar areas that are potentially unsafe. Staying visible also helps in these situations as you will notice a lot of these tips work together to make you a more conscientious and safe person.

The last but certainly not least important tip is to be wary of crowds. It may seem confusing for us to suggest avoiding both crowded areas and isolated areas, but both provide perfect opportunities for robbers to take advantage of you. Pickpockets can be practically invisible in crowded environments, and you may not notice until it is too late. Be sure to stay aware of your surroundings and understand where to go to be as visible as possible.

Our motto is “safety aware, because we care” for a reason as awareness is your first line of defense against criminal activity.

Please ride safely as you use public transit systems of any kind and in any city around the country. Nashville is a special place with amazing people, but every city has that criminal element of which we want you to be aware and avoid.

“We are safety aware because we care”

References:

Mubashir, S. (2023, September 8). 12 public transportation safety tips everyone needs to know. Safety First. https://safetyfirst.blog/public-transportation-safety-tips/

Published by Statista Research Department, & 1, D. (2023, December 1). U.S.: Number of public transit crime events, by type. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1295845/number-crime-events-public-transit-us-by-type/

Security events of crime by transit mode. Security Events of Crime by Transit Mode | Bureau of Transportation Statistics. (n.d.). https://www.bts.gov/content/reports-violent-crime-property-crime-and-arrests-transit-mode

Tags: Nashville Public Transportation, Nashville, Bus Nashville, MTA Nashville TN, Nashville MTA Bus, WEGO Public Transit, Nashville Tennessee