A 17-year-old suspect has been arrested in relation to the stabbing of a Metro bus driver in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. According to reports, the 61-year-old driver was stabbed repeatedly in the chest, neck, and back following a verbal argument over fare evasion. Both the suspect and the driver had disembarked the bus before the attack took place. The driver was taken to the hospital and has remained in the intensive care unit in critical condition.
The latest incidence of violence adds to a growing trend of assaults against transit staff and passengers using Los Angeles’s public transportation system. Between February and March of this year, 23 Metro bus drivers were assaulted, with the most commonly reported acts being spitting and hands-on abuse, including punching. The attack on the Woodland Hills bus driver has heightened concerns from passengers who feel unsafe while using public transit.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been taking measures to improve safety onboard their buses, including installing prototype protective barriers on some routes to protect drivers. The agency will also introduce extra transit security officers from June 5. However, some groups, such as the Bus Riders Union, have called for a de-escalation team instead of an increased police presence.
Notably, arrests on public buses went up by nearly 19% in March compared to the previous year. However, critics like former bus driver Al Comer argue that law enforcement is necessary to protect the Metro, noting inadequate police response times given emergency calls.
As the driver recovers in the hospital, Los Angeles County officials and the Metro Transit authority must work together to establish comprehensive policies and legislation that ensure the safety of bus drivers and passengers as they traverse the diverse metropolis.
