Safe on public transport? Hamburg discusses women's carriages and protective measures!

Safe on public transport? Hamburg discusses women's carriages and protective measures!

In recent years, the issue of safety in local public transport has become increasingly important. Women in particular often feel unsafe at night, as a comprehensive study shows. Loud Fink Hamburg Using the subway and S-Bahn in cities like Hamburg is not without problems: stress, jostling and aggressive behavior often dominate the picture, especially in the evening hours.

A worrying study by the Federal Criminal Police Office (2020) shows that over 66% of women surveyed feel unsafe on public transport at night. This also explains the statement of Doruntina Bajraktaraj, a woman from Hamburg, who, after her own experiences with bullying on the train, called for women's carriages. She has now been able to mobilize over 38,000 supporters for her petition.

Demand for women's carriages

The idea of ​​women's carriages is already widespread in Japan, and Bajraktaraj sees it as a possible solution to increase protection for women. Etta Hallenga's demand from a women's advice center in Düsseldorf for suitable measures that go beyond the creation of separate wagons is also plausible. She warns that such measures could give the impression that women are solely responsible for their protection. That shouldn't be the solution because being safe shouldn't depend on gender.

The debate about these women's carriages is particularly explosive given the acute incidents. According to the NRW state government, there were over 1,000 registered sexual assaults on buses and trains from 2018 to 2022. “We can’t simply ignore this,” says Hallenga, emphasizing that a task for society as a whole is necessary to increase security.

More safety in public transport

Despite the discussion about women's carriages, a survey shows that 50% of women avoid public transport at night. In contrast, this figure is only 23% for men. Although the Hochbahn in Hamburg has a 24/7 security center that regularly monitors incidents, it does not see itself as responsible for finding solutions on its own. Instead, the transport association relies on cameras, loudspeaker systems and emergency call systems as well as promoting civil courage among passengers.

The police advise people to be vigilant in such situations: to travel in well-occupied carriages, to sit close to the driver and to react quickly if they are harassed. Finally, it is important that other passengers also intervene actively or request help from the police - if there is an acute danger, call 110.

The worries and fears often arise from reporting incidents that lead to an increased feeling of insecurity, especially among young women. Civil courage and a collaborative approach can help here. It is crucial that society as a whole takes responsibility and takes steps to ensure safe and fear-free driving for everyone.

• 66,7 % der Frauen fühlen sich unsicher im ÖPNV.
• Über 50 % meiden nachts den ÖPNV.
• 1.078 sexuelle Übergriffe in Bussen/Bahnen von 2018 bis 2022.
• 38.000 Unterschriften für die Petition von Bajraktaraj.

The challenge of making women feel safe at night is just beginning. Collective action and more initiated measures could be the key to improving the feeling of safety in public spaces.