I feel a heckuva lot safer when I’m on the subway in Sydney than on the subway system in my own hometown. Pretty sad.

Since this seems to be younger people causing trouble by and large, what about a curfew? Or does STL city already have one? Crack down on the kids out late at night and that might fix part of the problem.

It is interesting to note that a few people have mentioned Bernard Goetz, the New York subway vigilante. That was in 1984. Do you really believe that the New York rapid transit system has been crime free since then?

As an afterthought, there is some question as to whether the young people who approached Goetz intended any harm, or whether he was just jumpy. Goetz knows, and he has to live with the results.

I posted this directly to the story where Slay calls for more security, but I’ll post it here too:

I’m yet another daily rider on both Metrolink AND several buses. I use the entire system to commute to work, go grocery shopping, run random errands, etc. I’m a thin, young, professional woman, reasonably attractive and not strong in the least. It definitely would not be difficult to take advantage of me. I have to say that I’ve never been assaulted or have even seen anything untowards happen. The worst thing I’ve ever had is random guys hitting on me (no, not in the physical sense), but as many women out there will attest, that happens everywhere.

At most of the Metrolink stops I use (most between downtown and Maplewood OR Delmar Loop), there usually is at least one guard. Sometimes there are more. Lately (before these incidents were reported), I’ve seen increased security at the FP-DeBaliviere, Delmar and Grand stations. These probably would be some of the stations most people might think of needing more security. Regardless, it’s hyperbole to say that the guards aren’t there.

Next, I frequently have my monthly pass checked on the train and/or heading to the platform. This usually happens during my commuting time (7:30-9 a.m. or 4-8 p.m. for me), but it also happens at other times, particularly at night. I’ve only seen one person deliberately not purchase a fare and not have a ticket when the guards came around checking. Plus I’ve overheard people (usually teenagers) saying things like “Man, just don’t mess with a ticket today” followed up by the other person saying “I can’t! The guards will catch me!” and then they buy their fare.

This is not to say that stations don’t need more security. It would be great to have a guard on each side of the platform AND at major bus stations (I’m particularly thinking of Grand here). I’d imagine that is what Metro, the city and the county would like to have happen as well and is probably what they will work on.

Here’s what I have a problem with, though. Many of you are claiming that Metrolink doesn’t have enough security. The recent incidents that have been reported in the Post have NOT all happened on Metro property, though. Their guards are confined to Metro property. They can’t go patrolling on Pershing, a block north of the FP-Deb station. Be sensible in what you ask of Metro and the guards. Yes, more security would be nice and probably is needed, but don’t imply that Metro security is not doing their jobs when the guards can’t do what you’re foolishly demanding here. Police? Sure, they can patrol beyond the stations, but Metro guards can’t.

Next, many of you are demanding turnstiles. I disagree that turnstiles (the kind you see at amusement parks and such) are the way to go. They’re too low and are easy to jump. If anything, the best option beyond the honor system would be to have the gates/turnstyles used in Chicago and New York along with a transit card that you enter and remove from the machine. Those often are harder to get past and serve as good deterrents for those without a fare.

There are, however, other cities using the honor system, so stop with the hyperbole that we’re the only place that uses this.

I’m not saying that Metro doesn’t have problems. Sure it does. All public transit agencies do. *** There are no public transportation entities in the country that turn a profit.*** They’re not designed to. They’re designed as a public good and public convenience. Now that doesn’t mean that they can’t operate smartly, but please don’t spout off uneducated things like “Well, if Metro did X or Y, we’d have more than enough money to fund the X line.” That’s just not true.

Do you know where money for public transportation comes from, not just here, but in cities all over the nation? No, not just from your personal tax dollars. Depending on location and other factors, transit money comes from farebox revenue, local taxes, highway taxes, state funds, federal funds, and many, many grants. It’s not easy to get enough money together to start new transit in a city and grow it exponentially. Hell, it’s hard enough to sustain it. State and federal funds don’t provide a lot, and what little they do provide is being squeezed out because it’s not in the Fed budget anymore. These often are only good for a few years. In addition, the dollars that went to public transit from the highway tax is being cut. When you provide a public good, you always, always, always have to look for new funding from a variety of entities.

So you think Metro needs turnstiles. So you think Metro needs more security. So you think Metro needs public restrooms and rail and bus lines to X neighborhood. *** Fine. Help fix it. *** Ride the train or bus to more than just a ballgame. Attend the Metro planning meetings. Attend your community meetings. Write to local, state and federal leaders. *** And vote for the piddly 1/2 cent tax increase this November. *** That small increase won’t do much for expansion, except for starting the paperwork to that Westport rail line that Dooley wants so much. It will be just enough to sustain service. If you countians who want the convenience of going to a ballgame once in a blue moon pass the tax, then the city portion also will kick in again. In addition, perhaps there will be more talk of statewide funding, since Kansas City also would like to build light rail there. That’s two major cities in Missouri. Illinois passed a tax to help transit, even though only Chicago and the East St. Louis region really use it much. Why can’t Missouri?

So here’s the takeaway: You can’t make things better without money. It’s common sense. So do something about it.

Also, I just can’t bring myself to comment on all the race-bashing and weapon-advocating comments here. They sadden me too much.

Bottom Line: I will go out of my way to never use the Metro again. It’s been a common source of transportation for soldiers and airmen traveling from Scott AFB out to the St Louis airport. The word is already spreading that it’s considered an unsafe mode of transportation and any corrective action they take at this point is too late; sort of like installing smoke detectors after the house burns. We can’t legally carry a concealed weapon on the Illinois side but I would at least feel better if they allowed lawful citizens carry on the Metro on the other side; it appears that Metro management would rather give the punks an advantage. Not smart since they are not willing to provide proper security.

Maybe St. Charles was right after all.

It looks like a concealed carry permit would have come in handy in this situations.

Daily Rider:
Bravo to you, young lady. You are a true city person. I am also city, born and bred, and where I live now, while in the county, is close to the city and a city type neighborhood. Nothing and no one is going to keep me out. I ride the buses, Metro, and walk anywhere and I’m in my ’70s and walk with a cane. If the city is to be brought back, we are the ones to do it.

As to the rest of you, it’s disgraceful that a “word getting out” is making you afraid. Get your guns and buy a suit of armor and hide in your basement until the bad guys go away.

WebsterMark: you go it right.It is race oriented and nothing more.

What these punks need is a little old fashion butt kicking from some vigolantes. They don’t fear the law because even if they get caught they don’t even get their hands slapped because they are ONLY children.

If the government would stop paying people to breed we would see a reduction in gang activity. We have a generation of kids that are left without guidance because the parents only had them to increase their paychecks. No one gave me a raise when I had kids but our goverment seems to think it is necessary. Without government money many of these kids would need to find jobs and become part of the solution instead of part of the problem.

Relax the conceal carry rules so you can “carry” on public transportation.