Unsafe after dark? Women's travel experiences while walking, cycling and using public transport in Australia and New Zealand

Abstract

Women experience distinct safety challenges when walking, cycling, and using public transport, particularly after dark and in relation to unwanted behaviours. Contemporary evidence integrating multiple transport modes and whole-journey stages across Australia and New Zealand remains limited. A cross-sectional online survey was administered to women aged ≥18 years in Australia and New Zealand who walked, cycled, or used public transport to and/or from work or education at least weekly. Descriptive statistical analyses examined travel patterns, safety perceptions, unwanted behaviours, reporting, precautionary strategies, barriers, and preferred improvements. Of 878 consenting respondents, 642 eligible women were included (M age = 42.6 years, SD = 13.3). Perceived safety declined sharply after dark across all modes. Only 25.2% felt safe walking after dark, and 34.4% cycling after dark. Infrastructure type strongly influenced perceptions: 72% felt safe in dedicated bicycle lanes compared with 16.3% on shared roads. For public transport, most women felt safe on board during the day (train: 76.8%; tram/light rail: 73.2%; bus: 78.6%; ferry: 69.4%), but far fewer felt safe after dark (30.7%; 34.1%; 34.2%; 38.7%). Perceived safety was particularly low when walking to/from stops (21.0–28.0%) and when waiting after dark (21.0–29.0%). Unwanted behaviours were common across journey stages, including unwanted staring or gestures, being followed, or made to feel unsafe, and abusive language, particularly on-board public transport. Only 21% agreed there were promising avenues for reporting concerns, and reporting rates were low (walking 13%; cycling 15%; train 18%; tram/light rail 20%; bus 17%). Women's perceptions of safety show clear whole-journey patterning by time of day, infrastructure, and journey stage. Improvements should prioritise lighting and surveillance, protected cycling infrastructure, staffed or monitored waiting areas, and clear, trusted reporting mechanisms.