Local community groups gathered Friday in an effort to make transit riders safer from assaults.

Public advocate Letitia James together with the group Hollaback! and the Center for Anti-Violence Education called on the NYPD and MTA to better train their officers on how to handle sexual violations and assaults on public transit.

They say they want improved reporting systems, creation of a bystander education program, increased penalties for offenders, and installation of cameras in subway cars.

James urges the state legislature to pass a law to increase penalties for offenders and says she hopes the state will fund all their proposed initiatives.

The groups say the majority of incidents happen on subway cars especially on the 4, 5 and 6 lines.