LA Metro crime is down, but riders aren’t convinced — as they reveal safety hacks

Of all the knocks on LA Metro, rider safety is the hardest to dismiss.

Safety remains the system’s stickiest problem — even as of 2026, the agency says violent crime fell 6.7% in 2025 compared with 2024, reaching its lowest level since 2021.

Metro also reported a 33% drop in “crimes against society,” including trespassing, narcotics and weapons.

For rail specifically, the most current Metro ridership data also points upward. In May 2026, Metro reported
6,472,058 rail boardings, up 9.5% from the same period last year and the highest rail ridership level in more than six years — a significant jump even accounting for the temporary boost from World Cup activity.

But better numbers don’t erase a damaged reputation.

“Perception of safety is always going to be subjective,” said Juan Matute, deputy director of UCLA
Transportation Studies. “A woman in her 20s is going to have a different experience of safety on Metro than a guy in his 40s who’s been using it for years.”

Some riders described workarounds: avoiding trains after dark, or carrying tasers “just to make sure they’re covered.” Others push back.

“I often feel safer on Metro than people say it is,” Matute said — while granting that not everyone shares that comfort, “and the Metro should be for everybody.”

That gap is the real bar. Falling crime numbers matter, but they do not close the case on their own. Until more riders feel safe stepping onto a train, the perception will keep outrunning the reality.

For Metro, laying track is the easy part. Earning trust is the rest. Watch the video above for more on this story.

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