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LRT Safety

YEG Bus Rider said:
www.theglobeandmail.com

In Edmonton, safety on the public transit system is a growing concern

As the city continues to sprawl and grow at an unprecedented rate, the future of public transportation is a crucial issue
www.theglobeandmail.com www.theglobeandmail.com
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I have mixed feelings about this getting such national coverage as I don't feel this problem is unique to us, which in fairness the article does indicate.

Oddly it sort of seems to portray this as a recent problem, when in fact it has been a problem for several years now.

Hopefully wider public embarrassment will cause the city to take this more seriously and take more effective action. As the article indicates security guards were often ineffective.
 
David A said:
I have mixed feelings about this getting such national coverage as I don't feel this problem is unique to us, which in fairness the article does indicate.

Oddly it sort of seems to portray this as a recent problem, when in fact it has been a problem for several years now.

Hopefully wider public embarrassment will cause the city to take this more seriously and take more effective action. As the article indicates security guards were often ineffective.
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It's kinda odd, gotta agree with you on that. Weirdly I think we've been facing these issues for a few years that we've plateaued and started improving slowly compared to other systems.

In terms of coverage, I'd argue we're no longer in the spotlight. Sadly that goes to Montreal now. The Montreal Metro has had some bad coverage and metrics the last few months to the point that only 52% of riders have a strong sense of safety when riding, which is actually insane.
 
Honestly, the Montreal Metro's big enduring advantage over the LRT is that it's cleaner. I opt to walk or bike rather than take the LRT quite often, and it's not nearly so much because I think I'm going to get assaulted as because it smells like piss.
 
constance_chlore said:
Honestly, the Montreal Metro's big enduring advantage over the LRT is that it's cleaner. I opt to walk or bike rather than take the LRT quite often, and it's not nearly so much because I think I'm going to get assaulted as because it smells like piss.
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I realize its hard to keep up, but I feel the city has been as effective with keeping it clean as with the security guards. Past approaches taken needs to be revisited.

Where I go, it mostly seems clean, but some of the stairwells do smell badly and have for a long time.
 
Yea, most of the problems could be solved by hiring cleaners always devoted to specific stations. Probably cheaper than hiring more police.
 
Exactly! Throw 1-2 old timers in each station. Thusly those stations belong to “Old Joe or Tom.” The same faces day in/day out. Transit riders and Fentanyl using scumbags alike will know that “Corona station” is ‘Ol Joes and will be hesitant to “sully or burden” the station with their urine/vomit and/or refuse. No different than any other public locale with the same service faces
 
University station used to actually have that—old fella working there as a cleaner you’d see daily. Took real pride in his work and it was always really clean. Easy to recognize cause he constantly had his hair dyed in a funky colour.

Anyone know who I’m talking about? Sadly I heard he was assaulted on the job so no idea if he still works there (haven’t been to uni station much since pre-covid)
 
northlands said:
University station used to actually have that—old fella working there as a cleaner you’d see daily. Took real pride in his work and it was always really clean. Easy to recognize cause he constantly had his hair dyed in a funky colour.

Anyone know who I’m talking about? Sadly I heard he was assaulted on the job so no idea if he still works there (haven’t been to uni station much since pre-covid)
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I know exactly who you're talking about, I always loved the Christmas decorations he'd have on his floor cleaner. I think it was a little tree? I actually saw him get off at University Station today!
 
There's pretty active enforcement at Churchill and Central stations with TPOs and EPS stationed. They scan trains when they stop (I've even heard the driver use the loud mic to tell them which car to check) and I've seen multiple people being fined and arrested.

Not sure what the experience is for others who take the LRT in this site and in other stations, but security presence is noticeable and super visible, which I think is the point. If they keep this up, perception is going to improve by a ton.
 
I think too if only we can see a constant cleanliness up keep at the stations, meaning staff there doing their job, but also another set of eyes would be great. The busier the stations the less and less that we'll see drug users who would rather not be seen by many..
 
^They don't really. However transitioning from Commissionaires to Peace Officers will give them more authority to charge people, or confiscate drugs and move them along. Commissionaires can't intervene in any way. As of May 13 they can also ticket them $25 under the new Public Spaces Bylaw.
 
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