Comments on: Cynthia Tucker: DWRM

By: BPJ

BPJ — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 16:01:55 +0000

I know I’m safer on MARTA than driving. I’m a very safe, defensive driver, but getting in a car is several times more likely to lead to injury or death than riding a train (or plane).
The increased presence of uniformed officers on MARTA trains is a good idea, because perceptions do matter, and people need to feel safe, but let’s keep in mind some realistic calculation of risk.

By: Richard Curry

Richard Curry — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 18:08:30 +0000

As someone new to the area and haven’t taken my first ride on MARTA, it may be a good chance to get out my camcorder and see what my first impressions of MARTA are. It would be interesting to see the difference in prospective from a newbe and someone that rides it daily or weekly.
That is if i didn’t get my camcorder stolen!

By: Teashook

Teashook — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 16:18:56 +0000

I think your suggestions are helpful. Unfortunately, I have been threatened on trains. Even if I hadn’t been though, one must realize that in our society perception often equals reality. In my opinion one of the primary reasons that more folks don’t ride MARTA is out of fear for personal safety. There has got to be a more uniformed police presence in stations and on trains to fix this perception.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 14:23:14 +0000

Amen! Bring back the posted officer on every train. I used to ride MARTA to and from downtown fairly late at night (after 10 p.m.). I only had issues twice - once with a guy who was clearly unwell and muttering about how he was going to kill somebody, and once with a very friendly drunk guy who tried to follow me off the train - there was a uniformed officer immediately available. In general, I feel pretty safe on MARTA, even as a woman travelling alone.