The MBTA finally had something positive to report about its service last month, though credit for the improvement actually goes to the police division charged with guarding the subway system: Violent crimes decreased by almost 20 percent last year, reaching the lowest level in 10 years. While riders are by no means safe from petty theft and rare instances of assault, police officers deserve congratulations for putting a dent into what has historically been a scary system of trains and stations.

The work is by no means finished. Now Boston law enforcement authorities need to ensure residents feel safe when they leave T stations. Though violent crimes have also declined slightly citywide, Dorchester and Roxbury remain plagued by shootings and assaults. Innocent bystanders still fall victim to gang crossfire at all hours of the day. Potential attackers can still follow victims out from heavily policed T stations into still dangerous areas.

To ensure commuters feel safe on all parts of their route throughout the day and night, the transportation authority must itself take measures to ensure riders can easily contact police in the event of an emergency. When police officers are too expensive, T employees must at least be present, and helpful, at all stations so that riders can contact someone for help during the most dangerous hours.

Even those who live, work and study in more affluent areas like Brookline and Back Bay cannot ignore the effects of violent crime in other parts of the city. Few residents can spend much time living in such a densely populated area without facing the same fear and apprehension people in other neighborhoods face when walking out their doors. Other Bostonians disregard these warnings at their peril.