Danny's respect for public transit staff

1 hour

NL

Danny Steehouwer is a young man in his mid-30s (2026) who published his second book, titled “Droomjongen,” in 2024.

A true story (about Danny’s life)—a boy who, as a student at a vocational school for special education, is trying to find his way in a tough world. His goal is to be admitted to a vocational program (MBO). He is determined to make those dreams come true. At school, they think this is arrogant and strange. Teachers constantly tell Samuel that a sheltered workshop is the best he can hope for. His classmates start bullying him. It gets worse and worse, until the worst bully even threatens to kill him. But he still won’t give up on his dreams: he must and will prove that he is more talented than anyone thinks.

More than a quarter of bus and tram drivers are regularly harassed by passengers. Among passengers, this often manifests as a general feeling of insecurity.

The perception and impact of social insecurity on public transportation are distributed as follows:
Staff: According to research by TNO and Statistics Netherlands, tram and bus drivers are harassed by passengers more often than members of other occupational groups.

Passengers (Women): As many as 42% of public transit passengers sometimes or regularly feel unsafe on trains, buses, or trams. Among young adult women, more than half even feel regularly unsafe due to unwanted physical advances, staring, and sexist remarks.

Passengers (General): About three in ten passengers experience harassment from intoxicated individuals or other passengers during their trip.

A lecture on bullying behavior in public transportation focuses on creating a sense of social safety. You’ll discuss the impact of harassment, the line between teasing and bullying, and how bystanders can intervene. The goal is to raise awareness and offer practical guidance for both passengers and public transit staff.
The following topics are essential to cover:
• Forms of bullying and harassment: Discuss physical, verbal, and social harassment. Examples include name-calling, spitting, exclusion, or deliberately blocking the aisle on a crowded bus or train.

• Objective vs. subjective safety: Explain why bullying behavior not only constitutes a criminal offense but also creates a sense of insecurity. This often leads to avoidance behavior, where passengers avoid public transit.

• The role of the bystander (bystander effect): Why do people often fail to intervene? Teach the public how to de-escalate situations without endangering their own safety.

• The psychology behind peer pressure: Explain how group dynamics work among young people or commuters and how this can escalate into bullying behavior.

• Cyberbullying on public transit: Social media and group chat apps are often used to humiliate fellow passengers online.

• Specific reporting procedures: Inform the public about the protocols. For example, passengers in the Groningen-Drenthe region or elsewhere can immediately report inappropriate behavior through special channels, such as the WhatsApp reporting numbers provided by national transit agencies.

• Dealing with aggression: Guidelines for conductors, bus drivers, and special enforcement officers on how to de-escalate situations

CONDITIONS:
- No mileage will be reimbursed; only public transportation costs
- A changing room is nice to have, but not required
- Snacks and drinks are appreciated
- For bookings, it would be appreciated if the booking agency representing Danny Steehouwer could receive photos afterward.
- Requests can be made in both the Netherlands and Flanders.
- For every 50 euros from a booking, a portion will be donated to Pesten op de Werkvloer.

Tags: lecture, book presentation, book signing, bullying, victim, expert by experience, education, resilience, assertiveness, self-confidence, guest speaker, presenter, discrimination, social safety, neurodiversity, Anti-Bullying Week. workplace bullying, stop bullying now, public transportation, tram, bus, train, metro, staff, violence.

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