Photo by PoPville flickr user AWard Tour
“Dear PoP,
I keep reading accounts of people being attacked on sparsely populated Metro trains (late at night, on weekends, etc) – it seems like occurrences are becoming more and more frequent as reported on Police Department listservs.
Metro keeps reporting budget crunches, and I’m sure criminals and petty thieves know MetroTrains are easy venues for their activities, since Metro Police can’t be in every car, or even on every train.
Whenever I’m on Metro late at night, I always choose to enter a more populated car, but can we take our protection to the next level by collectively occupying the first or last car of each train – say after 8pm?
You know what they say – safety in numbers! How could we organize such a publicity campaign, or has something like this been attempted in the past?”
That’s why the Guardian Angels ride the metro. From the MPD listserv:
Friday August 28, 2010 aapproximately 8:20 pm Guardian Angels was patrolling
the green line from Annacostia to Gallery Place. When the doors opened up at
the Navy Yard stop, three males approximately 20 years old, were engaging in
a loud, heated argument. The three males began to fight. Guardian Angels
rushed in to stop the fight. The males were very aggressive. The Guardian
Angels had to detain the three males and call Metro Police. When the train
arrived at L’Enfant Plaza Metro Police took one male into custody for simple
assault and disorderly.
Honestly I ride the metro (including the Green line) quite frequently late at night and have never felt uncomfortable. There have been some highly publicized fights (featured on this blog) but I’d say they are still rather rare. I’m not saying I’m a tough guy, maybe I’ve just got lucky, but it’s always been fairly uneventful (perhaps some yelling and music but no fighting).
Anyway, what do you guys think – does riding the metro late at night make you feel uncomfortable?
Would you like to see a campaign to fill the first and last cars for safety or something like that? If so how would you recommend that campaign be launched? In cooperation with WMATA?
Recent Stories
“Dear PoPville, I’ve lived in DC for about 7 years now and have struggled with the intellectual book clubs of our uber-smart city. So here I go starting my own!…
Thanks to Wayne for sending: “Sunday afternoon on the hopscotch bridge. Faster than the streetcar?” And thanks to Julie for sending on Saturday:
Ed. Note: If this was you, please email [email protected] so I can put you in touch with OP. “Dear PoPville, I realize this is a little delayed, however I wanted…
If you have any animal/pet photos you’d like to share please send an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com with ‘Animal Fix’ in the title and say the name of your pet and…
Looking for something campy, ridiculous and totally fun!? Then pitch your tents and grab your pokers and come to DC’s ONLY Drag Brunch Bingo hosted by Tara Hoot at Whitlow’s! Tickets are only $10 and you can add bottomless drinks and tasty entrees. This month we’re featuring performances by the amazing Venus Valhalla and Mari Con Carne!
Get your tickets and come celebrate the fact that the rapture didn’t happen during the eclipse, darlings! We can’t wait to see you on Sunday, April 21 at 12:30!
There’s a reason Well-Paid Maids has hundreds of positive reviews from happy clients.
The home cleaning company pays cleaners — who are W-2 employees — a living wage starting at $24 an hour. Plus, cleaners are offered benefits, including insurance, 24 paid days off a year, 100% employer-paid commuting costs and more.
Lexi Grant, an operations manager at Well-Paid Maids, said it best: “People deserve their work to be respected and recognized. When that happens, you love what you do, and you create the best results.”
Alt Comedy Show – Zack White – Milky Way
DC’s most annoying comedian is moving to Brooklyn- come say good riddance April 20th at Slash Run with a special half hour show and taping. Featuring standup, powerpoint presentations, and dumb prop stuff, Milky Way is a send-off to two
Bethesda Fine Arts Festival
The 2024 Bethesda Fine Arts Festival will be held May 11 & 12, 2024 and will feature fine art created by 120 of the nation’s best artists, live entertainment and Bethesda restaurants.
Located in Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle, along Norfolk, Auburn
