Embodied fear, perceived safety and transit-based mobility among women of color in Metro Vancouver

This study presents the stories shared by five students at Simon Fraser University who identify as women of color, regarding their fear of harassment or violence and perceptions of safety while navigating public transit systems in Metro Vancouver. Using qualitative methods and the Body Map Storytelling exercise, this study examines how female bodies of color encounter unique threats to their safety in transit spaces due to social prejudices and the impacts of such threats upon their decisions regarding public transit usage. These stories provide an understanding about how women of color navigating public transit systems in Metro Vancouver encounter obstructions to mobility justice in their day-to-day commutes. This study advocates the use of mobility justice frameworks and alternative research methods to understand the urban mobilities of women of color in Metro Vancouver and promotes intersectional, feminist approaches to the planning and implementation of transportation strategies in urban regions in Canada.