The recent shooting on an A train in Brooklyn has left some subway riders feeling anxious and wondering how they’d react if such a violent clash occurred on their automotive, bus or other type of public transportation.
Experts say public transportation is not solely dangerous, and even in New York City, perceptions of subway crime have overshadowed what actual data reveals.
Still, it can be helpful to know what public safety experts say are the very best ways to guard yourself when using public transportation.
Here’s what you have to know.
Be alert to dangerous situations.
Tracy Walder, who has worked for the CIA and FBI, recommends staying alert for individuals who seem “very anxious,” corresponding to those that can’t sit still or those that engage in verbal harassment, although she adds that many individuals who engage in such activities, do not harm others or commit crimes in these behaviors.
“It usually starts out as an escalation,” she said. “It would start with verbal harassment and then escalate to physical harassment.”
It can also be essential to focus on the proper aspects.
“If you monitor your surroundings, don’t judge people by their appearance. Judge them by their behavior,” said Michał Cieślik, chairman of the safety committee of the International Public Transport Association.
Choosing a seating area and other tips.
Mrs. Walder encourages you to start with preparations. She said those traveling on public transport should always be alert and vigilant. She also suggests that passengers try to sit in the operator’s or conductor’s cars – typically the first and middle cars of New York trains – and avoid doors, because she says public transit users are more likely to be harassed around them.
Cautious travelers may also consider avoiding end carriages, especially at night when these areas may be less crowded, and may want to avoid eye contact with strangers.
“If you hear about verbal harassment, don’t respond because 100% of the time you will only escalate the situation,” she said.
Many railway systems have intercoms through which passengers can contact the conductor. Passengers can also contact other transit workers or call 911 immediately if cell service is available underground.
When should you apply the emergency brake?
Ms. Walder warned against using the emergency brake, especially in large cities, because you can get help faster if you wait for the next stop, get off and then call emergency services. Applying the emergency brake means the train may stop in the tunnel and you will have to wait for help.
Consider changing your car to another one.
If you feel uncomfortable, it might be a good idea to change cars, preferably while waiting for the next stop, Ms. Walder said. For example, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority urges passengers not to walk between moving cars because doing so can be fatal.
What about open wagons?
Open carriages, i.e. long trains without separate carriages, have become the norm all over the world, said Cieślik. He said the wagons make it easier to escape the situation because there are no doors to slow people down.
“If you get attacked, you dodge much faster,” he said.
But an open carriage system could also make it “tougher to stop the carnage” in a violent scenario, Ms. Walder said.
Seeking help from outsiders.
What if someone is bullying you and no one helps you?
Sometimes people don’t take action to help because they believe others will, says Chandra Bhat, president of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Institute of Transportation and Development.
Bystanders may also be unaware of what is happening.
“It’s one thing to simply be a little loud and ask for help to point out a situation that is making you feel uncomfortable,” Bhat said, adding that this is also a signal to the aggressor.
It’s best to keep it short. “People get a little nervous and then they start saying too many things that can actually escalate the situation,” he said.
Mr. Cieślik also encourages you to keep as much distance as possible from the aggressor and record using your phone.
Knowing when to intervene.
Tsahi Shemesh, founder and chief instructor of Krav Maga Experts, a New York-based organization that teaches self-defense classes, said that ultimately “the reply is do what you can,” adding that not everyone has the same capabilities and that every situation is different.
“The truth is, if I don’t know what I’m doing and if I don’t have the power to stop it, I might just become the next victim,” he said, adding that sometimes the best decision is to do nothing if you’re not trained.
But he said “not being equipped is a dangerous decision” and that people should learn self-defense.
Polly Hanson, senior director of the American Public Transportation Association, said that “the choice to intervene nonconfrontationally is a personal decision, and transit authorities will encourage people to report issues quite than intervene.”
If you witness an attack, Mr. Shemesh said it is sometimes helpful to keep your voice loud and pay attention to the situation, or check on the victim afterwards, if there is one, to make sure they know someone is watching and caring.
“People often do absolutely nothing once they see an attack,” he said, adding that it’s not because they don’t want to help, but “because they do not know the best way to help.”
If you are a witness, should you record?
Passengers should only record the incident using their phone cameras if they are not in any danger. Law enforcement officials used cellphone camera footage to secure convictions and piece together crime scenes, Ms. Walder said.
Chandra Bhat, president of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Transportation and Development Institute, noted that sometimes people change their behavior when they know they are on video.
“Sometimes it can be a way to diffuse the sound because most people, as soon as they realize there’s a recording going on, start to adopt a slightly softer sound,” he said.
