Regular New York City subway and bus riders feel less safe from crime and harassment than they did six months ago, according to MTA survey data obtained by The Post.

The March survey of 25,205 “active” transit riders showed just 26 percent were “satisfied” with “safety from crime and harassment on trains” — a 15.1 percent dip from September.

Crime and harassment also clocked in as the top concern of current riders — 72 percent of whom identified themselves as “very concerned” about the safety of their commute.

COVID-related concerns ranked much lower among current riders than the “lapsed” riders polled in the survey. Commuters who have yet to ride with the MTA during the pandemic ranked “mask wearing” as their number one obstacle to returning to transit, the survey found.

A majority — 57 percent — of lapsed riders surveyed attributed their absence from the subways and buses to concerns about COVID-19.

But many lapsed riders are also concerned about crime and harassment — the survey found 36 percent said they had not been riding transit due to fears about crime, while seven in 10 cited the issue as “extremely important” in their decision to return.

“These are not just folks who are using the system, these are folks who are considering coming back. Our riders have sent a clear message here: If you make the system safer, [they] will come back,” Interim Transit President Sarah Feinberg told The Post.

“I think there’s two things that are holding people back — safety from crime and harassment and safety from COVID,” Feinberg said.

“When they enter the system, they immediately feel better about safety from COVID. They don’t feel better about safety from crime and harassment.”

Transit crime has come under intense scrutiny during the COVID-19 pandemic amid a spate of high-profile assaults and subway shoves.

Subway felonies dropped in January and February compared to the end of last year — but the dips remain less stark than drops in ridership, according to NYPD stats presented at the March MTA board meeting.

Feinberg on Monday reiterated her longstanding calls on NYPD to expand its presence in the transit system.

In February, the city added 644 cops to its subway patrols — but the survey found less than half of riders, 45 percent, had actually noticed the extra officers.

“We’ve seen over the last week or so a bunch of stories about cities across the country experiencing upticks in crime. It’s not a criticism of the NYPD,” Feinberg said.

“What’s happening across the country is also happening in New York, and also happening in New York’s transit system. Underground is a reflection of that as well. If you put additional resources underground, you’d be able to nip that problem in the bud.”

Feinberg also cited “efficient and reliable service” as essential to getting riders back.

Transit advocates have been pushing for more frequent trains and buses. They argue that more trains will attract ridership, which will in turn bolster safety.

“At the end of the day, the MTA can’t flood the transit system with the tens of thousands of police it would take for an officer to watch every nook and cranny of the transit system. That’s not possible,” said Riders Alliance spokesman Danny Pearlstein.

“The governor’s priority should be frequent and reliable transit service — and low fares– to attract more New Yorkers back and keep more eyes on the transit system.”