A recent shooting on an A train in Brooklyn left some subway riders feeling unsettled and wondering how they might react if such a violent collision took place on a train car, bus or other mode of public transportation.
Experts say that public transportation is not uniquely dangerous, and even in New York, the perception of subway crime has eclipsed what the actual data reveals.
However, it can be helpful to know what public safety experts believe are the best ways to protect yourself while using transit.
Here’s what you need to know.
Be alert for dangerous situations.
Tracy Walder, who has worked for the CIA and FBI, recommends being on the lookout for people who seem “extremely anxious,” such as those who can’t sit still and those who engage in verbal harassment, though she adds that many people who engage in these behaviors do not harm others or commit crimes.
“Usually, the way things start, it escalates,” he said. “It would start with a verbal abuse and then escalate to physical abuse.”
It is also important to focus on the right factors.
“If you observe your surroundings, don’t judge people by their appearance. Judge them by their behavior,” said Michal Cieslik, chairman of the International Union of Public Transport’s safety committee.
Choosing where to sit and other pointers.
Ms. Walder encourages starting with preparation. He said riders should always stay awake and alert on public transport. He also suggests riders try to sit in the operator’s or conductor’s cars — usually the first and middle cars on New York City trains — and avoid doors, because he said transit users are more likely to be harassed near them.
Cautious riders might also consider avoiding the end cars, especially at night, when those areas may be less crowded and they may want to avoid eye contact with strangers.
“If you hear verbal abuse, don’t respond because you’re just going to escalate the situation 100 percent of the time,” she said.
Many train systems have intercoms that riders can use to communicate with the conductor. Riders can also contact other transit officials or call 911 immediately if they have cell service underground.
When should you pull the emergency brake?
Ms Walder warned against pulling on the emergency brake, especially in big cities, because it may be quicker to get help if you wait until you get to the next stop, get off and contact emergency responders. Pulling the emergency brake means that the train could stop in a tunnel and you will have to wait for help.
Consider moving to another car.
It may be a good idea to change train carriages if you feel uncomfortable, preferably while waiting for the next stop, Ms Walder said. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, for example, urges riders not to pass between moving cars because the practice can be deadly.
What about open carriages?
Open carriages, or long trains without separate cars, have become the norm worldwide, Mr. Cieslik said. He said the wagons make it easier to escape a situation because there is no door to slow people down.
“You’re much quicker at evasive action in the event of an attack,” he said.
However, the open carriage system can also make it “more difficult to contain the carnage” in a violent scenario, Ms Walder said.
Asking passers-by for help.
What if you are being harassed and no one is helping you?
Sometimes people don’t step up to help because they think others will, said Chandra Bhat, who is president of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Transportation and Development Institute.
Bystanders may also not realize what is happening.
“It’s one thing to be a little loud and ask for help to show a situation that makes you uncomfortable,” Mr Bhat said, adding that it also sends a message to the attacker.
It’s best to be brief. “People get a little upset and then they start saying too many things that can actually escalate the situation,” he said.
Mr. Cieslik also encourages putting as much distance between yourself and the attacker as possible and using your phone to make a recording.
Knowing when to intervene.
Tsahi Shemesh, founder and head instructor of Krav Maga Experts, a New York-based organization that teaches self-defense classes, said that ultimately “the answer is, do your best,” adding that not everyone has the same capabilities and that every situation is different.
“Actually, if I don’t know what I’m doing and if I don’t have the power to stop it, I might become another victim,” he said, adding that sometimes doing nothing is the best decision if you’re not trained.
But he said “being unarmed is a dangerous decision” and that people should learn self-defense.
Polly Hanson, senior director for the American Public Transportation Association, said “the decision to intervene in a non-confrontational way is a personal decision, and the transit authority will encourage people to report things, not intervene.”
If you witness an attack, Mr. Shemesh said sometimes it helps to be strong and draw attention to the situation, or to check on the victim later, if there is one, to make sure they know someone is watching and cares.
“People tend to do absolutely nothing when they see an attack,” he said, adding that it’s not because they don’t want to help, but “because they don’t know how to help.”
If you are a witness, should you record?
Passengers should only record an incident on their phone cameras if they are out of danger. Law enforcement officials have used camera phone video to secure convictions and piece together crime scenes, Ms. Walder said.
Mr Bhat noted that sometimes people change their behavior when they know they are on video.
“Sometimes it can be a way of venting, because most people, once they realize the recording is happening, they start to tone it down a little bit,” he said.
