Any big-city public transit users ever nervous about terrorism?

[Patiod]

In Philadelphia, we have an old, decaying infrastructure with too few stairways handling too many people. A lot of mornings when I'm on the stairs and the big crowds on the platform are moving REALLY SLOWLY, images of Barcelona flash through my mind.

9/11 didn't change my day-to-day life a whole lot - I was (calmly) back on planes the week they started flying again, and I still take public transit every day.

But Barcelona has stuck in my head. Not changed my behavior, but stuck in my head.

[WoodrowFan]

1. yes

In DC, yes. I keep an eye peeled for left behind packages, backpacks, etc. I'm taking to train to NYC on Sunday so I think I'lll be a bit nervous then too.

[theboss]

12. I flew to Boston last month from National

First of all, I can't fly to Boston without thinking of 9/11.

But more importantly, at the security check point, a guard looked down and said, "Hey....whose bag is this?" After 30 seconds, no one had claimed it and then everyone started to get a little skittish. I scurried off to my gate angry at myself for being paranoid. But then, something like this happens and you realize that it's not 100 percent paranoia.

[GeekMonkey]

2. I never think about it on Atlanta's subway (MARTA)

But then again, Atlanta's rail system is relatively new and very clean, and decenty secure.

I used to smoke cigarettes and you couldnt light one up without instantly getting a reprimand over the loudspeaker from one of the security personnel that were monitoring the cameras.

I don't smoke cigs anymore, so I havnt done this particular 'security test' in a while, so things may have changed, but I suspect things are even tighter post-WTC

[Patiod]

10. I take MARTA all the time when I travel to Atlanta

Quicker and cheaper to get to Dunwoody/Perimeter area via MARTA then via rental car. It is indeed clean and seemingly secure - and a distinct lack of urine smell, unlike the Philadelphia subway system (our suburban commuter trains are okay - it's the city subway stations that reek)

[Dissent Is Patriotic]

3. NO, too busy wondering if a train is actuall coming. n/t

[demnan]

4. I get nervous using the roads

there is a fleet of huge oil tankers right next to my route on a major highway. Someday someone's going to blow that up.

[theboss]

5. I take the Metro in DC occasionally

I think about terrorism when I'm on the trains. How could you not really?

What concerns me is if someone wanted to hit a train, how can you really stop them? I went to a Nationals' game in May. It was delayed by a really nasty thunderstorm. The Metro entrance is covered and the station is underground. So everyone just stayed put until the Metro police hustled them out.

But I was thinking. No one searched me when I got on the train. There are easily 2000 people in what is essentially a cave. If someone had a bomb in a backpack, there would be nothing anyone can do.

So...yea...it worries me some.

[centristo]

6. here in NYC

its still a little scary. It would be SO easy for a terrorist to bring a bomb onto the subways or buses. Then you read in the papers that Wyoming is getting 4x as much money for Homeland Security as New York state and it gets frustrating. But you can't let the terrorists run your life. You've got to just do your thing. This is how life goes on in Israel everyday.

[countingbluecars]

7. Yes,

and instead of fighting a bogus war in Iraq we should fixing our problems here. Our national guards should be here. The money should be spent to make us safer here.

[Caution]

8. Not at all

Millions take public transit every day and less than 100 are killed a year in terrorism attacks on public transit. You have a much higher chance of dying while driving on a country road statistically.

Why be worried over something you have zero control over. The whole point to terrorism is to put enough fear into people that they force their government to change policy (like for example the PATRIOT Act). If people refuse to allow terrorism to effect government policy it becomes a useless tool. (idealistic sure but true nonetheless).

[Patiod]

16. I'm not necessarily worried, but I'm not always comfortable

on crowded platforms, when I feel I don't have quick access to exits. It never bothered me before Barcelona.

I just really hate this one downtown SEPTA station. And if anything ever hurt my favorite coffee stand and prevented me from getting my morning expresso, I would be reallypissed

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

9. No. Brazil didn't buy into Bush & Blair's stupid war.

Therefore I am safe.

[undeterred]

11. I am glad I don't live in Chicago any more

where I used to use it every day.

[dogday]

13. Part of the subway was closed

before the explosions, according to a poster...


John Kelly writes:

"I was on the way to work today. The tube was down so I had to take the bus. They said something about a power outage so I had to get out at Waterloo. I got on the number 68 which didn't take me to Camden(where I work) but took me to Euston, which is pretty close. I was about five minutes from Euston when we got stuck in traffic. I decided that, as it was pretty much deadlock, I would get out and walk. The streets were full of people which was pretty normal considering the problems with the tube.

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/news/

[liberal N proud]

14. We flew to Chicago a month ago and rode the EL into downtown.

We had our suitcases and all on the train, no one ever checked anything.
Now I understand from the airport to downtown but when we returned to the airport with our bags, there was no one checking anything as we boarded the train in downtown. We could have had explosives in those bags as easily as anything.

To tell you the truth though, I never worried about it as we traveled.
If we let that kind of fear get to us, we will end up barricading ourselves in our houses and never see or do anything.

[2Design]

15. just the ones in the wh

the rest seem fine - with the normal gangs and gun violence in this country - it is already unsafe in many areas

transit systems in other countries in general are safer than travel in usa

we have our own terriorist of the streets and have for many a century

when we are unwilling to pay a living wage - people can not pay their rent and therefore resort to violence

the usa lives with violence every day that no one is doing anything about

we do inspections for show not for safety

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

17. Today there was a Planned terror drill in the NYC subways.

My ex-husband just told me that there was a huge increase of police presence.

[dogday]

18. You are kidding

was it a planned drill or did they show up after the events in London?

[enigmatic]

19. "planned"????

THAT's interesting..

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

20. It was reported on local NY NBC news. Not kidding at all. n/t

[AngryAmish]

21. No

This is my theory. I lead a boring life. Nothing that interesting ever happens to me.

[bicentennial_baby]

22. Well I'm going to Paris at the end of the month

but I'm not gonna freak out about it...