The impact of transit growth on the perception of crime. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Spicer, Valerie; Song, Justin
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental psychology. Volume 54(2017)
• Page Start: 151
• Page End: 159
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Perception of crime -- Public disorder -- Transit -- Growth; Environmental psychology -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; 155.905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2017.09.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-4944

Abstract

Abstract: Fear is a pervasive urban problem affecting the quality of life in urban communities. In the urban environment, fear and the perception of crime happen at the nexus that connects people to places. Research linking fear of crime to public transit reveals public disorder as a major contributing factor. This relationship is particularly relevant to transit systems that are forecasting significant growth. This study demonstrates how perception of crime changes over ten years of growth at a large transit hub in western Canada. The results show that perception of crime increases and becomes more concentrated. Cognitive maps (1997: n = 430; 2007: n = 458) from a community survey compare the perception of crime overtime, between males and females, and victims of crime. The micro morphology of the area surrounding the transit hub is discussed and the location of this station on the system is analyzed. Future research directions are presented. Highlights: Cognitive mapping effectively captures variations in perception of crime. Growth in transit ridership can intensify and concentrate perception of crime. Spatial and temporal variations in perception of crime. Differences in perception of crime between females and males. Differences in perception of crime between victims of property and violent crime.