Indianapolis - An Indiana University survey finds most Indianapolis residents feel safe in their homes, neighborhoods and downtown. The majority of those surveyed also believe Indianapolis has a reliable police presence.
The survey was conducted in September by the IU School Physical Education and Tourism Management at several locations across the city. Some 380 people were surveyed about their perception of the quality of life in Indianapolis.
The survey also found:
• Indianapolis residents' concerns about air pollution, transportation services, road quality and traffic are growing.
• Indianapolis residents believe efforts to promote cultural and sports tourism will generate revenue for the city, but more respondents agree that the city should pay to promote cultural tourism initiatives – not sports tourism.
According to Sotiris Hji-Avgoustis, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Tourism, Conventions and Event Management, 93.4 percent of the respondents to the survey said they felt safe or very safe in their homes during the day; 91 percent said they felt safe or very safe in their neighborhoods during the day; and 87. 3 percent said they felt safe or very safe downtown during the day.
When asked about their perceptions of safety in Indianapolis after dark, 85.2 percent said they felt safe or very safe in their homes at night; 76.5 percent said they felt safe or very safe in their neighborhoods at night; and 59.4 percent said they felt safe or very safe downtown at night.
A year ago, 54.7 percent of the respondents said they felt safe or very safe when they were downtown after dark. During the daytime, 86.4 percent of respondents said they felt safe or very safe in downtown Indianapolis. Perceptions about police presence also rose positively.
Perceptions about police presence also rose positively.
Some 60 percent said they agree or strongly agree that Indianapolis has a reliable police presence, up from 55.8 percent a year ago.
The survey was conducted after the August 6, 2010 crash involving IMPD officer David Bisard that killed one motorcyclist and injured two other motorcyclists on the Northeastside, Hji-Avgoustis noted.
The annual survey has been conducted since 2004. The 2010 survey for the first-time included questions about sports tourism as well as cultural tourism.
(Info from press release)
