St. Louis Metro Transit Offers Personal Safety App to Transit Riders

The Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District is making a new safety tool available to public transit riders that they can utilize in the event of an emergency when commuting on the Metro system, while waiting for MetroLink and MetroBus vehicles at Metro Transit Centers, and while waiting or walking to the bus stop or MetroLink station.

The SafeTrek app program will notify law enforcement agencies if Metro riders need emergency help when they are on the Metro system. Metro has contracted with SafeTrek, a mobile personal safety application available on iOS and Android devices, to help transit riders feel safer when they are on the transit system.

“While serious crime on the Metro system is rare, perception is reality for some of our customers. We want our riders to know their safety is very important to us and we want them to feel safe when they are taking Metro Transit,” said Ray Friem, executive director of Metro Transit. “We are very excited to offer this new tool to our transit riders, free of charge, to give them peace of mind that no matter where they are in the St. Louis region, emergency help is as close as their fingertip.”

SafeTrek is simple to use. If Metro passengers feel their safety is at risk, then they can open the SafeTrek app on their cell phone and hold their thumb on the safe button. Once the dangers passes, the transit rider can release the button and enter the personal four-digit pin number. If help is needed, then the transit rider can release the button without entering the pin number, and SafeTrek gives local police the user’s name, emergency information and location. SafeTrek dispatchers provide assistance from the moment an alert is triggered until police arrive. If users cannot or do not wish to speak with dispatchers, they can text or even stay silent, and emergency help will be dispatched.

Metro riders can sign up for the SafeTrek personal safety application at SafeTrekApp.com/metro. After they enter their phone number, they will be sent a link to download the free version of SafeTrek on their mobile device.

SafeTrek not only works on the Metro system, but also anywhere in the bi-state region as well as when users travel to other cities. The app is free for one year for Metro transit riders who sign up.