"Women are concerned no one will help if they are sexually harassed on public transport, according to a poll in five of the world's biggest commuter cities that was released on Thursday as officials warn transit networks are magnets for sex predators.
A survey of 1,000 women in five cities found only 368 women were confident or very confident that other passengers would step in to help if they faced abuse.
Less than half of women surveyed in Tokyo, Mexico City, Cairo and New York were confident of assistance although about half of women in London said they would get help which city authorities attributed to beefed up efforts to assist women.
In total 102 women in London were optimistic that others would stand up for them, while women in Tokyo were the least positive with only 57 expecting help.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation poll comes as city authorities around the world increasingly bolster efforts to ensure women have safe, efficient transport to give them full and equal opportunities to education and the workforce."
