City leaders Tuesday rolled out details of their latest effort to keep Albuquerque bus riders safe.
The tiered strategy includes a new smartphone app riders can use to anonymously report incidents or issues on city buses or at bus stops.
Mayor Tim Keller said the new campaign started along the Central Avenue corridor and will spread from there.
“We’re continuing to step up when it comes to keeping transit safe for families by using tech, holding violators accountable, and doubling down on police presence,” Keller said. “Criminal behavior will not be tolerated, and we won’t back down until riding the bus in Albuquerque is a frictionless experience for all; hop on, hop off, and be safe the whole time.”
The changes were discussed at an Alvarado Transportation Center press conference that included a demonstration of the See Say app, where officials simulated a situation with an intoxicated man who was harassing a female passenger and another rider surreptitiously submitted a report to transit staff. The report instantly relayed the time and location of the incident to ABQ RIDE — along with a photo of the problem passenger.
Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) and ABQ RIDE transit safety officers are part of the effort, Transit Department Deputy Director Bobby Sisneros said. He added they will try to assist riders and remind them of the rules for riders, with Albuquerque Police Department officers able to assist if arrests or citations are necessary.
Those who don’t have smartphones can report issues by texting or calling 505-391-2600.
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