All aboard: How LGBTQI+ safety makes public transport safer for all

LGBTQI+ riders, especially transgender, non-binary, and people with multiple marginalised identities, experience higher levels of violence on public transport, according to a new study from the University of Auckland.

Public transport safety expert Kirsten Tilleman from the Faculty of Engineering and Design, led the research, which drew on focus groups and interviews with 25 LGBTQI+ women (cisgender and transgender) and non-binary people aged 18-47 in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

The study identified common patterns in people’s stories and examined where safety breaks down across the public transport system.

"What struck me was not only how much energy my Rainbow participants spend scanning for danger in places others move through without thinking, but also how much they consider the needs of others," says Tilleman.

For example, when pointing out that it would be helpful for bus drivers to step in when homophobic comments are made on their bus, participants also noted they wouldn’t want the driver to be put in harm’s way and that the driver’s main job is to safely operate the bus.

Tilleman says that most public transport trips are uneventful. Everything is safe until it isn’t, and that study participants often shared experiencing types of harmful behaviour that tend to be be overlooked by people in positions of power.

Participants described fellow passengers following them off buses and aggressively demanding, "You guys lesbians, you guys lesbians?" Or getting silent "death stares" for not conforming to societal gender norms.

She says these moments aren't always reported as 'incidents,' but they shape whether someone feels they can use public transport at all.

"It's crucial for riders to know what they can expect from public transport authorities and what's expected of them as riders. It communicates a commitment to safety and fosters a shared sense of responsibility and respect."

Tilleman says safety improvements cannot be achieved through isolated or one-off interventions. Instead, public transport networks need a systems-level approach backed by proper investment in people, funding, and physical infrastructure.

"The violence our communities face is not one-dimensional, so it makes sense that our solutions have to be layered as well," she says.

Public transport authorities can’t simply put up posters on buses and expect anything to change, she says

"They must first ensure they have security staff and technologies in place to respond to incidents, that their drivers and other frontline staff are trained to cultivate a positive, safe and inclusive environment, and are trained to de-escalate situations when they arise."

She says systemic change also means reliable operational services that don’t leave people stranded at stops.

Tilleman is working with Auckland Transport on safety initiatives, including a behavioural guidelines and active bystander programme.

"There’s no overnight fix," she says, "but there is opportunity for lasting and effective change."