For many U-High students, public transportation is the way to and from school, being easy, cheap and reliable. But, with the ease of public transportation comes issues of safety and security.
The Chicago Transit Authority reported 3.4 crimes per million riders among all trains and buses. This has trended down since 2021, which saw a peak of 4.2 crimes per million riders but has nearly quadrupled since 2015. This combined with the stereotype and the focus on negative incidents on the CTA has led many riders to drive or take other forms of transportation or just avoid public transportation completely.
According to a January 2023 poll conducted by WBEZ of 2,000 daily CTA riders, 45% of riders said they felt “somewhat unsafe” or “very unsafe” while riding the bus.
However many of these incidents are easily avoidable through a few simple tips recommended by Michael McGehee, Lab’s director of safety and security and a former Chicago police officer.
“Whether you’re taking the train or the bus, a good practice is to sit in a place where there are people, and if you don’t feel comfortable, go to where the conductor or driver is,” Mr. McGehee said.
Even if you don’t know anyone, sitting in a crowd makes you a less easy target and riding with an employee is an extra form of protection.
Sitting with a group of people may not be possible because sometimes trains and buses are empty, so riding with someone you know like a friend or a family member can provide a sense of safety and entertainment.
For many students, having airpods or headphones is a common occurrence, but while they can allow you to be in your own space, they can isolate you from your environment.
“If you’re going to have headphones in,” Mr. McGehee said, “I always recommend one with an AirPod or with headphones, put one ear cup to the side, just so you can hear and be aware of your surroundings.”
One final tip Mr. McGehee suggested is using common sense and judging your surroundings to make the right decision.
“Use your common sense, if it’s a really late night, it might be worth the extra money to Uber. If not, call a friend for a ride and just let people know where you are. If it is your parents or older sibling, just communicate with people, especially if you are traveling alone,” Mr. McGehee said.
