ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the most relevant theories and theoretical principles about crime and perceived safety in transit environments that inform the analysis of empirical research in this area. Some of these theories include rational choice theory (in particular routine activity and crime pattern theory) as well as ecological theories (such as social disorganization theory) and other theoretical principles such as CPTED – Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. The chapter ends by offering a discussion about the modifiers of fear and perceptions of risk in transit environments, and introduces the concepts of functional and dysfunctional fear.
