Upsetting experience today on the way to work

[Philagoofy]

Today is one of the rare times I use public transportation to go to work, I usually drive. After a few stops on the train, I drifted off to a nice, peaceful sleep & began to dream. All of a sudden I’m startled awake by a lot of commotion, a bang type sound and some yelling & screaming. People are running up & down the train car, some are running out of the car and yelling. Out of the window I see a woman lying on the platform with people surrounding her. It was very frightening, I immediately thought there was shooting going on. I asked another rider and they said there wasn’t.

After awhile I could see the woman on the platform, a couple of people sat her up with her legs straight out in front of her. She was an older, kind of frail, slim woman with a bandage around one of her ankles. Her knuckles were bloodied. A man had tried to take her bag and dragged her off the train. I don’t know that he was caught right away because a man sitting with her was giving a description to the security/police who quickly arrived.

I feel so bad for that poor woman, she looked so stunned. This happened around 6:50 in the morning on a train with a fairly large number of people, not overcrowded but certainly not empty. It doesn’t matter anymore what the time is, how many people are around or how safe you feel. Hang on to your valuables (your children especially) and be guarded and aware of your surroundings. Thankfully it wasn’t much worse but for that woman, I’m sure it was traumatizing.

 

[ajk912]

omg, that is horrible!!! Wow. I hope the woman is ok.

 

[emer95]

Wow- I would have been completely freaked out. That poor woman! What a total loser, to traumatize an old woman for her money. God bless her, poor dear. I hope she's ok. Hope they catch the jerk, too.

At that time of the morning I'm sure my guard would have been down. Yikes.

 

[java]

Oh that poor woman.

I had a creepy commuting experience once. It stopped me from sleeping on the train. I always did. I used to have to be in work by 7:15 so I was on the EARLY train. But it was crowded with construction workers(always respectful) and other business guys(not so much) not too many women.

Well I am asleep- up against the window- 2 guys next to me. The one right next to me an older guy. I wake up as the train pulls into the station with his hand in my lap. (I was wearing a skirt so really what was he going for?) he pretending to be asleep. It would have been a very akward accidental hand movement. CREEP! I shoved his hand off and the outside BIG guy got involved with a "Is there a problem?" He pulled the other guy out of the row and let me get out so I wouldn't have to pass him.

 

[Philagoofy]

That's terrible Java. Another incident just happened here last week on the train. A man sat next to a woman who was holding her baby. He put a knife to her & groped her for several stops. I guess she was too afraid to get up & get off. Some of the stations are pretty empty although I think there's always a manned toll booth.

It may not be safer, greener or less expensive, but I sure don't miss this stuff when I drive. So instead I put up with traffic & careless drivers. Can't win.

 

[JR6ooo4]

....and people sleep on the train? with all this going on around them?

Mikeeee

 

[JerseyMamaBear]

what is wrong with people anymore?

 

[Maddykins06]

This is EXACTLY why I hate public transportation (at least in Philly anyway). I work in West Philly & I drive from Jersey every day. More expensive, but seemingly safer.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Considering the number of passengers that use mass transportation, it is very, very safe - far safer than driving...

 

[Candy30]

That poor woman. I feel sorry for her. I hope she is ok. Public transportation is just that....dealing with anyone in/from the public. You never know what you get on any given day. I used to ride it and was fine until I had a guy (who seemed to be mentally impaired) yell and scream at me. This happened a few times. I guess I reminded him of someone. When he grabbed my arm is when they finally got the police involved and put him off. I just started taking a later tram.

 

[Philagoofy]

Considering the number of passengers that use mass transportation, it is very, very safe - far safer than driving...

I'd have to agree, especially considering all of the reckless, careless drivers who aren't paying enough attention to the road. I'm sure there are far more car accidents than commuter rail accidents.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I'd have to agree, especially considering all of the reckless, careless drivers who aren't paying enough attention to the road. I'm sure there are far more car accidents than commuter rail accidents.

I suppose that it depends upon what you are afraid of. You are probably more likely to be killed or maimed driving a car. On the other hand, you are probably more likely to be robbed or molested taking inner-city public transit.