Citizen security and urban commuting in Latin America

Abstract

Sustainable modes of transport, including both public transit and active transport, have been promoted as strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, one factor that may influence their use is related to security concerns, although prior evidence on this topic is scarce and inconclusive. We explore whether perceived security in 10 large cities in Latin America is related to mode choice for commuting. We rely on the 2017 CAF Survey implemented by the Development Bank of Latin America, where individuals report their levels of satisfaction with neighbourhood security. Our results suggest that individuals who feel more satisfied with their neighbourhood security engage in more public transit commuting, although this result holds only for male commuters. Our results suggest that strategies aimed at increasing security can alleviate concerns about neighbourhood crime, increasing the use of public transit in Latin America.