Women Are Sharing Their Experiences Of Sexual Harassment On Public Transport

*Warning: This article contains information that some people may find distressing.*

As we creep towards the possibility of most coronavirus restrictions being lifted, more of us are returning to aspects of our pre-pandemic lives.

This includes using public transport, where we have to closely interact with strangers. It is also something that has extra complications if you're a woman. Women are more likely to encounter sexual harassment from strangers.

Tyla asked our audience whether they had experienced sexual harassment on public transport and the answers were shocking.

One woman simply replied: "I mean who hasn't at this point".

Somebody else said: "Men touching/pinching my bum while I'm standing up, more than once !".

"And when I moved he followed me and when I got off he tried to follow me until I turned around and shouted", said someone else.

A woman recounted: "Sitting on a bus and having a man come and sit so close to me he might as well of been on my lap".

"Men sitting in the seat next to me, brushing hands/knees regardless of how many seats are free", another told Tyla.

Another woman sent in her story: "Was groped on a packed train, initially thought their hand had slipped but they carried on".

However, these stories are unsurprising when compared to a study conducted by YouGov last year that found more than half of women in London have fallen victim to unwanted sexual behaviour while on public transport.

What was also worrying was that 90 per cent of unwanted sexual behaviour incidents go unreported.

If you do experience an incident on public transport, or you witness something, then there is action that you can take.

If you text 61016 about the incident, then an officer will be assigned with your case. The service is available across all of the rail network in England, Scotland and Wales and the British Transport Police ensures that someone will respond to your report within a 24-hour period.

The report can also be taken further so the rail network can access over 150,000 CCTV cameras and gather information about passengers and their journeys as well as collect witness statements, for the possibility of bringing suspects to court.

If you witness or experience an incident on public transport and wish to report it, text 61016.

Featured Image Credit: Unsplash

Topics: Life, Sex & Relationships

Charlotte Forrester

Charlotte (‘Fozz’) is Tyla’s Content Kickstarter as part of LADbible group’s Kickstart Class of 2021. She recently graduated from the University of Exeter where she studied English and worked in student media. A pop culture fanatic, she likes writing about entertainment, lifestyle and social issues.

@charlyfozz99