An 18-year-old victim of a vicious attack at a SkyTrain station is calling on TransLink to make public transportation safer and more secure for all passengers.
Sheshleen Datt was swarmed, attacked and robbed at knifepoint by six girls at the Nanaimo SkyTrain station in East Vancouver in April.
No one has been charged in relation to the incident.
Video surveillance cameras were operating in the area at the time, but the tape was not preserved for police, and has since been re-used.
Related story: SkyTrain swarming victim still fearful
"I just want to feel safe before going on the SkyTrain again," she said. "It's not only me, but everyone needs to feel safe. People rely on transit for everyday life, going to work and everything, and we all need to be safe."
NDP MLA for Vancouver Kingsway Adrian Dix says TransLink isn't doing enough to make the system safe for its users.
"There should be a SkyTrain security person or SkyTrain attendant at every SkyTrain station when SkyTrain is in operation," he said.
Dix has collected 3,500 signatures on a petition calling for better security, along with making several proposals to increase safety.
Among Dix's suggestions:
- More transit police
- Better lighting at SkyTrain stations
- An upgraded video system
- Turnstiles
- Full-time security staff at stations
- A safe walk home program
But TransLink Director of Communications Ken Hardie said overall, relatively few violent incidents take place on the SkyTrain system because of the presence of staff and security systems.
Hardie says it has already made improvements in these areas, or is in the process of doing so.
The number of transit police have increased more than 50 per cent since 2006, and improved lighting has already been installed at many of the busiest Expo Line stations.
A fully completed digital camera system on SkyTrain is expected to be in place by July.
