Politics & Government
Aggravated Assaults and Sex Crime Incidents Increase on VTA in 2010
A commuter's concern led Patch to ask questions. You'd be surprised what we learned.
Incidents of aggravated assault and sex crimes increased from 2009 to 2010 on the local bus systems, according to figures obtained from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). Sex crimes on light rail have tripled this year alone.
However, the figures based on a two-year average of 33.2 million bus and 10.3 light rail boardings.
The total number of incidents throughout the entire bus system showed aggravated assault increased 133 percent from nine in 2009 to 21 in 2010 and by 25 percent from 24 in 2009 and 30 in 2010 on the light rail system.
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On the bus system, sex crimes ticked upward 62 percent from 21 in 2009 to 34 in 2010. While the figure fell on the light rail from two in 2009 to one in 2010, year-to-date in 2011 there have been three incidents reported.
However, both incidents of robbery and theft fell on the bus from 2009 to 2010. Robbery dropped while theft increased on the light rail during the same time period.
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To promote safety VTA vehicles have “quite visible” signs that indicate the help available in case of an emergency and buttons that alert the driver or conductor, according to VTA Spokeswoman Brandi Childress.
She also added that VTA has received federal and state grant money to implement transit safety projects like closed circuit televisions for additional security measures.
Regardless of the VTA’s safety procedure, Mountain View commuters remain concerned.
"I remember one night, two guys were fighting and the bus driver had to stop the bus to stop them," said Edwin Lam, a Mountain View resident who witnessed the incident on the No. 22 bus line two months ago. "I definitely don’t feel safe on the bus at all."
Maria Dalay, another Mountain View resident and regular commuter, has seen many people bother and try to instigate the bus drivers.
“I think I feel safe, but I always see people yelling or trying to fight with the driver,” said Dalay. “I like the bus system very much but it’s filled with rude, smelly and filthy people that make riding the bus not nice.”
The posted emergency procedures do keep passengers like Renuka Liyanaga calm.
“Yeah, I’ve seen the signs for emergencies,” said Liyanaga. “I feel safe reading those all the time.”
Childress reminded customers “if a VTA customer is confronted by an unsafe situation, he or she should immediately let the bus operator know or push the emergency button to contact the light rail operator in the cab.”
VTA Bus Statistics
Crime
VTA Total Reported Calendar Year 2009
VTA Total Reported Calendar Year 2009
VTA Total Reported Calendar Year 2011 (Year-To-Date– May ‘11)
Robbery
5
2
1
Theft/Larceny
20
10
12
Aggravated Assault/ Other Assaults
9
21
12
Sex Crime
21
34
26
Total Boardings
34,510,273
31,983,494
25,992,807 (as of April ’11)
VTA Light Rail Statistics
Crime
VTA Total Reported Calendar Year 2009
VTA Total Reported Calendar Year 2010
VTA Total Reported Calendar Year 2011 (Year-To-Date– May ‘11)
Robbery
24
12
6
Theft/Larceny
30
36
10
Aggravated Assault/ Other Assaults
24
30
15
Sex Crime
2
1
3
Total Boardings
10,754,161
9,749,882
8,293,768 (as of April ’11)
Editor's Note: Mountain View Patch decided to ask VTA about safety on board their buses and light rail after a reader Roy Silva, wanted to learn more about safety when riding the lightrail. Have a question? Ask us!
