[yowzadave]

I hear some people say this, and my first reaction is usually yours--where do they live that could justify feeling so afraid? My 12-year-old daughter rides the subway to school in NYC every day, and she doesn't feel endangered (a bit crowded perhaps). I feel safer sending her on the train with her friends than I would putting them in a car.

Are there other cities where public transit is much more dangerous? I want to give GP the benefit of the doubt, but part of me wonders if this is an irrational fear fueled by media.

[s1artibartfast]

I would say Oakland BART. I'm a 200 man and not particularly fearful. I couch surfed through the arab spring revolution, but I avoid that part of BART. I have like a 50% rate of hostile homeless and mentally ill people screaming and threating me. I would not send a 12 year old daughter on it.

[ranger_danger]

Also have a 12yr old in NYC and I would never let them ride the subway alone, nor do they have any desire to.

I think perception and experience (direct or indirect) makes a bigger difference than just "where do you live". Some people might be scared by the media, sure, but we have both been personally assaulted several times on the train, and many more times simply freaked out and scared by weird people, and we know lots of others who have had similar experiences or worse, so based on that, no I don't think it's an irrational fear for everyone.

[xnx]

Chicago. The risk spectrum is a lot broader than "will I be murdered on the train?". You can also have a deranged person come right up and spit in your face (happened to me). Not worth it.