As adolescent girls in Auckland, we've noticed a fear-stricken murmur passing through and around our school. An unfair terror, rooted in the uncomfortable, sometimes traumatic experiences endured while using public transport, haunts many amongst us. It's not the education we're scared of, instead, it's the journey itself that causes us, and countless others, significant distress. No young girl should carry the weight of this fear—a fear which, if left unaddressed, can seep into adulthood and suffocate the very essence of fearlessness in us.

Public transport, the veins of Auckland, are currently seen as a maze of risks to many girls. This safety menace drastically affects the lives of our peers, potentially leading to a lifetime of feeling unsafe on what should be secure public platforms.

The New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey shows that 70% of sexual assaults go unreported. A surge in these numbers on public transportation would be terrifying, to say the least (Statistics New Zealand, 2018).

This petition is more than just an appeal; it's an outcry to put an end to the fear and trauma persistently associated with the use of public transport in Auckland. We urge the Auckland Transport Authority and the local decision-makers to draw stringent measures enhancing the safety of girls on public transport. It could involve better CCTV surveillance, regular patrolling, gender sensitization classes for public transport employees, or an effective reporting mechanism for matters of harassment and intimidation.

We believe everyone deserves to feel safe while traveling to and fro, and we need your help to make this belief a reality. Let's not allow the dread of the journey overshadow the enthusiasm for the destination. We call upon you to sign this petition and stand by the girls of Auckland, your fellow citizens, for a safer, more secure public transport system.