Rottimer t1_it1d8pn wrote on October 20, 2022 at 5:53 AM

Reply to comment by stoptakingmylogins in Queens man struck by subway in fight was rushing to take wife to doctor’s visit: widow by someone_whoisthat

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 on October 20, 2022 at 6:06 AM

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 on October 20, 2022 at 2:08 PM

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.