With populations in many cities reaching all-time highs, it would make sense that the safety behind public transportation was progressing, too. However idealistic this sounds, this is surely not the case.

Public transportation has been made into a necessity for many city-goers as they go about their normal work day or even week. From subways to train stations, this method of transportation is widely used across the world. Many people are ditching their gas-hungry SUV’s for a more inexpensive, and much more convenient, bus ticket. The idea of hopping on the subway to get from Point A to Point B for a city worker is merely second nature. With this method being the main source of transportation for over 14.9 million people in North America alone, it’s safe to say that cities aren’t properly controlling and monitoring their areas of public commuting as well as they should. As seen in recent news here in the United States, horror stories and even safety concerns have been popping up at an alarming rate.

An unfortunate dispute at the New York City subway station this past week ended with the death of 58-year-old Ki-Suck Han. This controversy has made headlines worldwide because of the debated question, “Why didn’t anyone bother to help?” Although this is a heated question, as it should be, another question many people have yet to pose is, “Why are subway stations still being designed in such a dangerous manner?”

Subway stations throughout the United States are all typically designed with the same layout. The train itself is connected to a deep pathway that travels underground throughout cities and towns alike. Although this form of transportation does as it is built to, transport people from point A to point B, it’s safety hazards have proven to be extreme, and in some cases, fatal.

Subway station layouts are just the beginning of the issues the United States is facing with public transportation. Bus companies have let their busses become run down and unsanitary, and even taxis are becoming more and more risky with the increase in injuries and accidents they are causing.

The reconstruction of the public transportation system is not something that can happen overnight. With thousands of bus, taxi, and train stations throughout the country, the process of reamping this form of transportation will take years. Although lengthy, this process is not only worth it, but also desperately needed in order to further the safety of its passengers.