About 200 women have taken part in a rally to highlight abuse and harassment they say they face on public transport.
The group, many of them Muslims, gathered at Grey’s Monument in Newcastle city centre.
Taj Khan, of organisers Tyne and Wear Citizens, said she is regularly called a “terrorist” by other passengers.
Nexus, which runs the Metro, said the number of hate crimes on its services was “low” although it accepted some incidents were not reported.
The event, on Saturday, coincided with the first day of Hate Crime Awareness Week, saw women describe their experiences of being mocked and abused.
Ms Khan, who was born and brought up in Newcastle, said she had stopped taking a bag on to public transport because she was often asked if she was carrying a bomb.
Recalling a recent assault on a bus, she said: “When I was walking past a woman, she literally stuck her elbow in my ribs – pushing it as hard as she could.”
“I don’t feel safe anymore.” Nexus said it is “vital” any form of discrimination is reported to police so it can be investigated.
It added “no-one should feel frightened or intimidated when travelling on public transport”.
Source: BBC
