Submitted by someone_whoisthat t3_y8g6tc in nyc
stoptakingmylogins t1_it0m7fs wrote
Reply to comment by yiannistheman in Queens man struck by subway in fight was rushing to take wife to doctor’s visit: widow by someone_whoisthat
Yes, but New York has a very high percentage of citizens who use the public transit system. Expecting safety measures on the subway is a VERY valid request. Random and unprovoked attacks can and do happen anywhere, but over the last two years the Northeast US has experienced the highest percentage rise.
People get stabbed, robbed, and assaulted multiple times a day in NYC. Memphis doesn't have shooters driving by every day. I grew up in Nashville and Memphis is notorious for being dangerous - frequently cited as one of the most dangerous in the country.
The issue in New York is that, moreso than any other city, you're frequently forced to take the risk. I have to use the subway to get to work, and almost daily someone clearly deranged will be on the train. Statistically, I'm probably safe, but every day I have to be on edge and careful because the mentally ill are passed through the shitty legal system and released over and over again. I'm a 6"5 guy, I imagine that is a huge reason I've managed to avoid conflict, but I've certainly come across people half my size that try to instigate me.
There are different issues at play here, but it's perfectly valid to mention the Subway as particularly unsafe. I'm sure if the man had the option, he would have driven his wife.
ikneverknew t1_it0oyga wrote
I get what you’re saying but the implication seems to be that there aren’t parallels elsewhere. Road rage incidents come to mind, as there are so many crazy motherfuckers on various interstates and highways whose egos and willingness to do stupid dangerous shit using their vehicle to randos who happen into their way. The subway may be unique in some regard relevant to this discussion, but I wager it’s not so much as we may think.
Rottimer t1_it1d8pn wrote
I've got to ask - what do you think is riskier in regards to death, taking the subway to work in NYC or driving to work in Memphis? Even if you count total subway deaths in 2022 it's far, far exceeded by total car deaths in NYC year to date.
stoptakingmylogins t1_it1ea2n wrote
That's fair, but we're talking safety from some form of assault. I wouldn't argue that driving a car would statistically improve risk of death on a day to day basis, but if we were to talk about someone committing a crime against you, I'd say the subway is far more dangerous. Some numbers to compare would be total deaths from assault in the subway system vs total deaths from road rage or something of the like. There's more nuance, surely, but that's just an example.
To respond to the other guys point as well, I think we can agree that, despite the statistically higher risk of death in a car, you feel much more safe and secure in one than you do crammed into a train cart with dozens of strangers - let alone mentally deranged and violent ones. The perception of safety, in my opinion, is just as valuable as the safety itself. People need to feel safe in their local communities and on public transit.
When I moved to NYC 6 years ago, I felt safe. I feel significantly less safe now, 50 pounds heavier. Just earlier today on the M train at flushing Avenue, a homeless man just stood facing perpendicular to me as I sat. He just spits on the ground, sticks a hand in his jacket and glares around. I don't know if he had a knife or gun, but not much could compel me to find out. I think the nature of the problem is rooted in a city with so many people that are on the edge. I need to work to survive, but I miss the days where that meant a nice commute where I could take a nap between stops instead of making sure I'm always aware of who's around me.
Rottimer t1_it2l38t wrote
That’s the thing about humans, our feeling don’t often align with probabilities. People are often too distracted when they should be fearful and too fearful when they don’t have much to worry about. I don’t deny that there are scary people on the subway and others that will make you feel uncomfortable. But we’ve also had 199 traffic fatalities this year through last week.
If the NY Post covered every traffic fatality the way they cover crime and micro mobility advocates posted on this sub like the conservatives post, you’d see people expressing the same fear about cars on the road and how drivers are a menace.
virtual_adam t1_it29c6m wrote
You’re basically advocating for every New Yorker to have a private security guard walking around with them. In order to prevent a crime that’s about 1 in a million or even rarer
At that logic you can also make private cars illegal. Much higher risk for a random person to cause you injury with them
Also same logic as locking down the city forever due to Covid. If even 1 New Yorkers in a million dies from covid, we need to shut down all restaurants
stoptakingmylogins t1_it2bm6e wrote
That's not at all what I'm advocating. You're assuming an extreme. There is middle ground - I've got the math in my post history, but the MTA could easily afford multiple security guards and live, monitored cameras in every station for the cost of cutting just a couple percent on their overtime costs. Expecting the primary provider of public transport to invest my fares into security versus mismanaging funds is a fair ask.
You're much less likely to have a random driver make an attempt on your life versus violent, mentally unhinged people with prior assaults on their record on the train.
virtual_adam t1_it2cm98 wrote
How would security cameras stop a 3 second push? It’s not like these people are never arrested. I don’t know of a subway pusher that’s still on the loose because cops can’t find them
You seem to be advocating for some 3 strikes rule towards the end of your comment. Which is very different than making sure 1 person isn’t pushed to the tracks every ~30 million rides by physically guarding every inch of subway at every moment of the day
stoptakingmylogins t1_it2e8gg wrote
That's exactly the point. It isn't like these people are arrested. That is the main issue, and cameras would allow a more rigid and enforceable accountability measure. Will ot definitely work like that? Who's to say - the DA is unreliable.
Security works as a deterrent, that's not much of a secret. Even if it prevents a handful of deaths a year, it's worth it. The only money on the line is money that the MTA is already spending, just very poorly.
Subway pushers get arrested and released the same week. That's very problematic. I'm not sure why this is an issue - would you not rather see the MTA manage their finances in such a way as to improve service, reliability, and safety for riders? It's not like I'm proposing massive overhaul or a drastic increase in budget.
yiannistheman t1_it0ssad wrote
A lot of words to say basically nothing. There are a lot of people using the subways and as such you'd expect a higher number of incidents there.
Top five states in terms of murders per 100k population have routinely been Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi and South Carolina. They're usually in the double digits. NYC's rate was 5.5 last year.
The spike in crime is cause for concern, but let's not pretend there's been some precipitous decline in safety.
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