Assessing the time-varying spatial influence of bus stops on crime by context: a street network analysisAssessing the time-varying spatial...J. Xu and S. Yu

The present study utilizes a sophisticated street network statistical method to investigate the spatial and temporal influences of bus stops on the variations of crime in conjunction with environmental backcloth and target mobility. Specifically, we examine: (1) the spatial impacts of bus stops on street robbery, commercial robbery, commercial burglary, and residential burglary by time of the day and day of the week, land use, and target mobility, and (2) crime risk trajectory around bus stops. The findings reveal a heterogeneous impact of bus stops on crime, contingent on multiple factors. Notably, the influence of bus stops on crime varies significantly based on the nature of the surrounding environment, the time of day, and target mobility. In addition, the analysis reveals that crime risks around bus stops exhibit patterns of distance decay. The findings underscore the need for strategic deployment of crime prevention resources in areas of the highest risk, particularly in the immediate vicinity of bus stops in commercial zones, and calls for a strategic shift to “hot time” policing that prioritizes targeted interventions during peak hours of criminal activity.