2 months Ago
Increasing Uneasiness at Intercity Stations
The study found that intercity stations are where people report feeling the most uneasy when traveling. Intercity stations tend to have a bigger volume of customers and a larger variety of people, which means that they frequently see more kinds of interactions, many of which may seem uncomfortable or unsafe.
Researchers noted that the atmosphere contributes to the heightened sense of unease and uncertainty for travelers - especially for young women.
Around one in three women aged 16 to 29 believe that they will experience some unwanted behavior during their journey. Passengers had also experienced discomfort in terms of verbal aggression, with one in four expecting to have to confront insults, harassment, or other inappropriate behavior on their travels.
The Official Response and Action Plan
Limburg's Deputy for Infrastructure and Mobility, Jasper Kuntzelaers (PvdA), responded to the results by saying: "It is unacceptable that people, especially young women, feel unsafe so often during their travel."
Kuntzelaers stressed, however, that every passenger should feel that he or she can use public transport in a peaceful mindframe; during the survey, Kuntzelaers highlighted that the province will not accept harassing or inappropriate behavior.
In this regard, new provincial plans will greatly increase on-the-ground policing, removing controls that allow for greater occupant observations. As of 2026, in addition to existing officers, there will be additional enforcement officers on the public transportation routes.
Furthermore, in conjunction with transport operator Arriva, the province will develop a pilot project for an emergency number that would allow passengers to quickly alert police officers or other authorities to a threatening situation.
Wider Sense of Insecurity
The safety problem in the area of Limburg goes further than public transport. In July, a separate survey of over 2,100 residents, and conducted by Hart van Nederland, the research revealed that 80 percent of residents feel unsafe on the streets after the sun goes down.
Interestingly, the rate among women is worse at 86 percent, so insecurity is a common issue in the province.
This latest study noted that feeling unsafe is not an isolated incident, but a broader challenge overall.
Within public spaces or on transport networks, many residents - especially young women - feel nervous about harassment and aggression. Authorities hope that it will be possible to begin regaining confidence with new initiatives, while also widening the overall level of safety throughout Limburg.
