> personal safety is a major factor in avoiding some forms of public transit in many cities in America

Perceived safety and comfort. Buses are safer than cars [1]. The problem is you might have someone who hasn’t managed their BO in a week sitting next to you, and that’s frankly happened enough time to me that I don’t take it in New York or the Bay Area anymore.

[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5906382/