Calgary Transit Riders Demand Action on Safety After String of Violent Incidents
A petition signed by 12,000 people calls for more transit peace officers and better lighting at CTrain stations.
More than 12,000 Calgary Transit riders have signed a petition demanding improved safety measures on buses and CTrain platforms following a string of violent incidents that has left commuters feeling unsafe.
The Incidents
In the past three months, Calgary Transit has recorded a 28% increase in reported assaults and threatening behaviour compared to the same period last year. Several high-profile incidents, including a stabbing at Marlborough station and multiple assaults on bus operators, have intensified public concern.
“I used to take the train to work every day. Now I drive because I don’t feel safe,” said Beltline resident Samira Osman. “That defeats the entire purpose of public transit.”
Petition Demands
The petition, organized by the advocacy group Transit Riders of Calgary, calls for doubling the number of transit peace officers, installing improved lighting and security cameras at all stations, increasing service frequency to reduce wait times, and expanding the DOAP (Downtown Outreach Addictions Partnership) team’s transit presence.
City Response
Calgary Transit director Sharon Fleming acknowledged the concerns and said the city is investing $8 million in immediate safety improvements, including 30 additional peace officers and enhanced camera systems at 12 priority stations.
“Every rider deserves to feel safe. We hear the concerns and we are acting on them,” Fleming said.
However, advocacy groups say the safety issues are symptoms of broader social challenges, including homelessness, addiction, and mental health crises, that require a coordinated response beyond transit enforcement.
“You can’t solve a housing and addiction crisis with security guards,” said the Alpha House Society’s Kathy Christiansen. “We need upstream solutions.”
