The petition came after fears for womens safety in London- spurred by two terrifying murders comitted in the capital.
The Night Tube was a great success and running regularly before the pandemic, but was shut due to the low demand for tubes at that hour after lockdown. However, more and more people are concerned for women’s safety as the Nights get longer and violence against women is on the rise.
Elle Watson started the petiton to address the “fear women face” walking home in the dark, even just after work. The murders of Sabina Nessa and Sarah Everad have terrified women further- both women were murdered walking the streets of london in the dark, Sabina only minutes away from meeting her friend in the early evening.
The petition, that you can sign on change.org, has gathered more and more traction in recent days, with over 118,220 signigtures meaning it is well in reach of its 150,000 target to get it pushed into parliment. Elle Watson writes “The decision taken by TfL to keep the night tube closed over the winter of 2021/2022 will have a disproportionate impact on women and low-income group, with women forced to take expensive taxis home during the busy festive season as a result of being unsafe in public.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, will be feeling undoubted pressure to answer the call for the night tube to be reininstated, and there are rumours that he will be announcing its return soon. Andy Lord, managing director of the underground, has confirmed that they are exploring the “feasibility” of reopening the night tube. There have been issues with drunk and disorderly persons on the night tube, like these drunk men, which could also pose risks for women’s safety.
Watson has responded to other rumors claiming that select lines will be reopened with skepticism, arguing that it will still be “jeopardizing the safety of women who live in the areas where the lines remain closed. I would also like to see some solid commitments rather than vague promises in terms of the lines in question.”
The expected announcement will be a welcome relief for women who have been forced to take taxis, which still pose risks in themselves.
