AC Transit:
Safe Riders Initiative

To meet the requirements of Senate Bill 434, requiring transit operators to collect and publish survey data to improve public transit safety and reduce street harassment, AC Transit looked to InterEthnica to conduct the Transit Safety Survey across its broad ridership with a focus on engaging underrepresented riders, including people of color, low-income communities, women, and LGBTQIA-identifying individuals. InterEthnica designed and executed a comprehensive in-person research strategy that engaged AC Transit riders directly at bus stops and onboard buses, completing a total of 715 intercept surveys in 3 languages (English, Chinese, and Spanish) across 26 key locations in Alameda County. Given the particularly sensitive topic, building community trust was integral to the process, and InterEthnica leveraged our long-standing relationships and ensured all interviewers received extensive training in de-escalation techniques and strategies so that participants felt heard and respected. InterEthnica’s findings will inform AC Transit's draft policy recommendations for harassment prevention and creating a safer transportation system, serving as a model for integrating equity-focused research into transportation planning.