Navigating Safety: Security Concerns in College Student Transportation in Algiers

This study investigates the security concerns of college students commuting in Algiers, focusing on how these interconnected issues impact their safety satisfaction.Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines quantitative data from a survey of 434 students with qualitative insights from in-depth interviews with 120 students.The findings reveal significant dissatisfaction with the safety of public transportation, particularly buses, trains, and tramways, due to interconnected issues like overcrowding, harassment, and theft, rooted in systemic failures such as inadequate monitoring and poor infrastructure.Comfort satisfaction emerged as a key factor influencing overall safety perceptions, with COUS (student buses) associated with higher safety satisfaction compared to other modes.Demographic factors like gender and age had minimal impact on safety satisfaction, though qualitative data highlighted the pervasive nature of harassment, especially for female students.The study recommends enhancing surveillance systems, increasing the frequency of transport services, and implementing gender-specific safety measures.While certain recommendations, like mobile apps and awareness campaigns, are immediately feasible, more systemic changes, such as infrastructure upgrades, may face financial and bureaucratic challenges.This research contributes to the literature on urban transportation safety and provides practical recommendations for improving the commuting experience for college students in Algiers.