Edmontonians transit safety concerns higher than national average: Ipsos – Edmonton | 24CA News
Edmontonians have been elevating considerations concerning the high quality of security on the town’s transit methods and now a brand new survey outcomes helps the complaints.
According to an Ipsos ballot performed solely for Global News, one in 4 Canadians don’t really feel secure whereas using public transit methods throughout the nation.
Edmontonians are probably the most fearful, the ballot reveals.
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In Alberta, two-thirds of respondents really feel that latest acts of violence are remoted incidents, “meaning that the majority of Albertans believe there is a trend in Canada of increased violence,” mentioned Sean Simpson, senior VP of public affairs at Ipsos.
On a nationwide spectrum, 45 per cent of individuals imagine that latest acts of violence are remoted incidents, the ballot discovered.
Seventeen per cent of Albertans are avoiding utilizing transit in any respect, which is three factors greater than the nationwide common. Other measures individuals throughout the province are taking to remain secure on transit embrace not travelling alone and never taking transit at night time, Simpson mentioned.
“The Albertan strategy here seems to be (to) avoid rather than adapt,” he mentioned.
Resident Jorg Shlagheck mentioned he tries to make use of transit as little as potential, despite the fact that it’s generally probably the most handy option to get round.
“Something needs to be put in place, whether it’s from the city’s resources, the province or the federal (government),” he mentioned. “We want to get around and we want to feel safe while we get around, and right now it’s not what’s being delivered.”
In December, the province launched a process pressure to handle the social unrest in Edmonton.
“The task force will implement recovery-oriented initiatives in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, we are allocating $63 million over the next two years, as part of an urban public safety and community intervention strategy,” the province mentioned in an announcement to Global News.
“We will continue to grind everyday to ensure everyone in Edmonton struggling with addiction has the treatment they need and until every person commuting to and from work feels safe in their community.”
Steve Bradshaw, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 569, mentioned the ballot outcomes usually are not a shock, particularly in Edmonton.
The metropolis’s opioid epidemic has led to a rise in seen drug use on the transit system, he mentioned, calling it a psychological well being and addictions mandate the province has failed.
“We need (the province) to come to the table with real ideas” to offer the well being care and housing that’s wanted to help the susceptible populations, Brashaw mentioned.
The metropolis has heard from residents about security on transit and at transit stations, and has been addressing the problem by including extra peace officers, hiring extra social staff to help susceptible populations and amending bylaws to assist individuals join with sources, mentioned Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.
“This is part of a wider issue in our community around mental health issues, around addictions issues, the drug poisoning crisis that we are facing … the houseless population … people end up being at transit stations or at LRT stations, or on buses or on trains because they have no other safe place to go,” Sohi mentioned.
He added that the town, whereas persevering with to cope with the housing and drug disaster, can also be making an attempt to enhance the transit system and make it safer.
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