Mayor of London: TfL recognise that some women feel ‘less confident’ on public transport at times and choose a taxi instead
The Mayor of London suggested London’s women and girls prefer to use taxis and private hire vehicles due to safety concerns on public transport and spaces at certain times of the day.
London’s transport network is under scrutiny once more after a question from Susan Hall, London Assembly Member, to Mayor Sadiq Khan highlighted a growing concern about women’s safety. The issue centres on the financial burden women face when opting for taxis over public transport or walking at night to ensure their safety.
Mayor Khan acknowledged the challenge, stating that Transport for London (TfL) prioritises passenger safety, particularly for women.
However, Khan admitted that TfL has not conducted a formal assessment of the financial impact on women who feel compelled to use taxis or private hire vehicles to ensure their safety. While efforts to boost public confidence in using public transport are ongoing, concerns remain about whether these measures are sufficient to address the underlying issues.
The discussion raises questions about the role of taxis and private hire vehicles in the broader debate on public safety. For many women, these services offer a reliable and secure option for travel throughout the day. Yet the lack of financial analysis leaves unanswered questions about the cost of safety and whether more targeted support is needed to bring the costs down for women.
Sadiq Khan said via written answer: “The safety of all passengers is an absolute priority for Transport for London (TfL), especially women’s safety. TfL makes a substantial investment in frontline policing to help improve safety on its services. It funds dedicated policing on rail, tube and bus services in London it works closely with the police to deliver shared objectives such as tackling violence against women and girls and hate crime.
“TfL recognises that women and girls feel less confident to travel on public transport or walk at particular times of day due to concerns about safety and security. Many prefer to use taxis and private hire vehicles to provide safe door to door services.
“While no formal assessment has been undertaken by TfL on the financial implications of this for women, concerted action is underway by TfL and the police to improve confidence to travel on public transport.“
