Talk of the Town

By harold

February 9, 2007 7:36 AM | Link to this

LET’S SEE, 2 OR 3 DEATHS WEEKLY ON THE FREEWAYS. 2 OR 3 “ROBBED OR BEATEN UP” ON MARTA WEEKLY. EXCLUDE THE FRI AND SAT NITE DRUNKS AND HAROLD WONDERS HOW LOW THAT NUMBER GETS FOR PEOPLE COMMUTING TO WORK. HMM ZERO PERHAPS?

BILLIONS OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE USING PUBLIC TRANSIT WITHOUT ISSUE.

45,000 AMERICANS DEAD EACH YEAR ON THE ROADS. MILLIONS INJURED SERIOUSLY ENOUGH TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL

GEE I WONDER WHICH IS SAFER.

ALL YOU NEED TO SEE TO FEEL LESS UNCOMFORTABLE PERSONALLY IS MORE RIDERS. NOT MORE COPS.

By HAROLD

February 9, 2007 7:36 AM | Link to this

WATCH OUT A LITE BRITE MIGHT GET YOU!!!

By Dusty

February 9, 2007 7:37 AM | Link to this

I take the train every day, even in the dark. I’m a mid-40s woman and I don’t feel threatened at all. That may have to do with the fact that I’m not going to let some punk take advantage of me and I probably give off that vibe. I refuse to let myself be a victim.

I’ve even taken the train after a Thrashers game by myself to College Park. I’ve taken the train after working until almost 8 at night.

I do think the police need to be more visable. I can go days or even longer before I see a MARTA cop. Too many of them are driving from station to station. Get out of the car and get on the train. You can’t help someone on the train or at the station driving on the freeway.

By JohnM

February 9, 2007 7:37 AM | Link to this

I ride the trains pretty much daily, and am a 6 ft.+ male. I don’t feel too threatened very often, but it does happen occasionally with a thug or two here and there. I have to admit that I NEVER see any MARTA cops on the trains anymore, ever! I see them very rarely around Lindbergh, and with the exception of them riding around in patrol cars I otherwise just don’t see them at all. Since my commutes are on the North & Northeast lines with the exception of Airport trips, I can’t speak to the safety of the E-W line. If I were a woman, I would be a little concerned after dark I think - but it does not have to be this way. I do know that MARTA is trying hard to make do with limited funding, and it should be a constant thorn in all Atlantans side that we are the only big city transit system that receives not one dime from it’s State Government. Are you out there somewhere Sonny-do?

By HAROLD

February 9, 2007 7:37 AM | Link to this

THE BIGGEST DANGER MOST PEOPLE WILL EVER FACE ON MARTA IS HAVING THE TURNSTILE NOT WORK AND YOU GET STUCK HAVING TO JUMP IT AND RISK PRISON OR PAY AGAIN

By HAROLD

February 9, 2007 7:38 AM | Link to this

WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR BUT HARRY POTTER.

By CJ

February 9, 2007 7:40 AM | Link to this

I have to commend Chief Dunham. The system is very safe. I also commend Marta for being proactive with hiring a RARE African-American Female to succeed Gene Wilson.

By HAROLD

February 9, 2007 7:44 AM | Link to this

WHAT DOES MARTA “PROPERTY” MEAN? EVERY BUS STOP? SO WE ARE INCLUDING RANDOM STREET CRIMES TO MAKE MARTA LOOK LIKE A SCARY VILLIAN?

WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS FOR PEOPLE WHO USE THE TRAIN TO COMMUTE TO WORK FOR NORMAL OFFICE HOURS? ZERO! ZERO! ZERO! ZERO! ZERO!

NO DANGER WILL ROBINSON! NO DANGER WILL ROBINSON! NO DANGER WILL ROBINSON! NO DANGER WILL ROBINSON! NO DANGER WILL ROBINSON!

HOW MUCH DID THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER PAY YOU FOR THIS COLUMN BOOSTING CARS AND DOWNING PUBLIC TRANSIT?

HOW MUCH DID THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER PAY YOU FOR THIS COLUMN BOOSTING CARS AND DOWNING PUBLIC TRANSIT?

By LauryT

February 9, 2007 7:45 AM | Link to this

MARTA has a long way to go before I, as a woman, would consider riding anywhere alone. There needs to be more evident policing of the stations and their immediate surroundings before I would feel comfortable enough to ride MARTA by myself.

By Bill

February 9, 2007 7:46 AM | Link to this

Cynthia:

It is very rare for me to agree with you, however on this subject I do. I agree with all you said and I have this question, why do I see as many MARTA Police Cars riding around Atlanta as I do Atlanta City Police? 90% of MARTA Police officers should be on the beat with their feet, not riding around Atlanta.

By Sue

February 9, 2007 7:49 AM | Link to this

I used to ride Marta to work (Buckhead) until my job hours changed. MANY TIMES I was solicited (trying to be nice)for money by various men/women that would become angry if you didn’t give them anything.The lighting at the College Park station parking lot is almost non-existent. The only time you see a Marta policeman is when the terror alert is elevated.I now pay for a monthly parking space out of my budget in order to feel safe. Forget the terrorists, Marta needs to do something about the homeless that ride the trains all day and sleep!

By jeffrye

February 9, 2007 7:50 AM | Link to this

By Beretverde

February 9, 2007 7:56 AM | Link to this

Friday nights on the southbound train to the airport is a “zoo in the circus of Atlanta.” No cops to be seen anywhere. The clowns are aplenty, and “acting the fool.” MARTA, in this case and many others, isn’t “Smarter.”

By BG

February 9, 2007 7:57 AM | Link to this

Marta police and the City of Atlanta police refuse to take reports for many of the calls they are dispatched for. In my dealings with both organizations, unless someone is killed, they loathe to spend their time with stuff that may seem mundane to them, but mean much to us. It is especially disheartening when a police report is needed to further the matter to its ultimate resolution, but it takes pleading and complaining before they will even send someone out.

When the FBI posts crime statistics for various American cities, I always wonder how much of Atlanta’s stats are a fabrication, based on the fact they do their best to not take reports.

As for Marta, they like to leave everything they can to the local jurisdictions, even if it is clearly on their property.

I used to take Marta between north Fulton and Downtown, but never again! I’ll sit in gawd awful traffic before I endanger myself on their system.

This, coming from a former NY resident that felt safer walking around Manhattan at 3am than I do at high noon in downtown Atlanta.

Stop pretending to be police, actually BE police!

By Scott Gilbert

February 9, 2007 7:58 AM | Link to this

After Last Thursday’s hockey game we were stuck for awhile at the five points station because Marta did not tell that after nine you must take the doraville train and catch the north springs train at Lindberg.

During our wait of over thirty minutes, no Marta Police were seen at the busiest station. There were plenty of people because of the Thrashers game getting out.

I couldn’t agree with you more.

By misawa

February 9, 2007 7:59 AM | Link to this

I haven’t felt safe on Marta in years and avoid it unless I feel I have no choice. The only times I use it anymore are for jury duty or if there is a need to go downtown to someplace where parking will be a problem. My wife feels pretty much the same. We don’t even bother using Marta for Braves games anymore, either.

I know you probably won’t share my opinion on this, and I don’t want to send everything on a tangent, but if the Georgia legislature would change the laws and allow concealed carry (with a permit, of course) on public transportation, I would reconsider. The police are too few around Marta stations (as you pointed out), therefore the only ones armed are the criminals.

By Mike

February 9, 2007 8:01 AM | Link to this

Harold - stop writing in all caps. It’s annoying and rude.

By Jaynicia

February 9, 2007 8:12 AM | Link to this

MARTA is safer depending on which connection you’re riding. While the security on the north/south connection appears adequate, it’s almost non-existent on the east/west connection. Every nutjob on the planet rides that one and they will hassle you fron one car to the next without any MARTA officer or personnel in site. You can intercom the driver and get no action. I rode it one day because I was going on a job interview down near Avondale and was terrified the entire time. I got the job but I turned it down because there was no way in hell I was gonna ride that connection everyday.

By CJ

February 9, 2007 8:13 AM | Link to this

MARTA gets so few things right that I doubt they can get security right either. They’ve had about 30 years in operation to fine tune their processes, procedures, and overall effectiveness yet it’s 2007 and they operate as if they just started up last week. I have never seen security on a train car; only gossiping and laughing at terminal entrances. That sure doesn’t boost my confidence, especially when I get approached by beggers and see people who dress the part of thugs and use hateful language on trains.

No, I don’t feel safe on MARTA.

By Eric

February 9, 2007 8:14 AM | Link to this

I take MARTA every day, but I am always traveling during peak times (am and pm rush hour) so there are always many people on the traing. I feel very safe during those times. I have on occassion, traveled with my wife to locations like Phillips Arena, but again those are during events where there are lots of people around. If we are doing to dinner or a how we always drive. MARTA sucks in many ways, heck, in almost ever way (dependability, cleanliness, customer satisfaction), but very rarely have I feel unsafe usin the system.

By Jeff

February 9, 2007 8:16 AM | Link to this

I would love for someone to do a study and how many injuries/deaths happen on our highways compared to MARTA each year. How do the rate of injuries/deaths compare to one another.

It is popular to bash MARTA and public transportation because it gives us an excuse to not use it and stay in our cars which is easier and faster. We do this despite the inherent risks of driving. Studies have shown that for young people my age, driving can be the leading cause of death. But yet people do it and do not think twice about it. But as soon as we hear about crime on MARTA, we say no thanks, I will not use it.

I am a male, and I try to understand the fears of women on MARTA as best as I can as a male. And I think that there are real fears there for women to have on MARTA because of how our society treats women. To be honest though, I fear for my wife’s safety more when she is driving home on the interstate then when she is riding home on MARTA.

By Jeffrey

February 9, 2007 8:18 AM | Link to this

They actually paid you to write this article? I could have written this. MARTA is very safe. Why don’t you report on the hundreds of MARTA trains and bus rides that end without incident. How about that? Why not talk about how the Route 186 bus made it through last week without one bad thing happening to the riders. You are right if you don’t want to ride MARTA you have a choice and that’s driving. Good luck having someone behind you that thinks they are Jeff Gordon and tries to pass you only to fail. I’m so sick of reporters harping on one bad issue. Sure I feel for the lady that was raped however I disagree that MARTA should have to pay that much money. Pay her medical bills sure and perhaps a little more yet 1.7 million is way to much. Of course that’s another issue talking about people who sue just because they can. So next time let’s talk about the safety of MARTA and.

By Miguel

February 9, 2007 8:22 AM | Link to this

I take Marta everyday to work to get to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and I rarely see a Marta police officer on the train. At night is even worse to ride the train with the single tracking problems it may take you at least twice the time to get to your destination. Also, a lot of customers make a lot of noise and Marta has no one around to take care of this behavior. One day a female friend of mine was riding Marta to the airport and a man sat next to her and started to touch his private parts infront of my friend. My friend moved to different seats but this man was chasing her around. At that time there was not one around to help her with this nasty man, then when Marta train got to the airport she contatcted the airport police and they found the man by baggage claim area and arrested him. I believe Marta is not safe at all for anybody. I hope the city of Atlanta will take care of Marta safety because we need to feel secure when riding the Marta rail system.

Thanks… Miguel

By Patrick Farley

February 9, 2007 8:22 AM | Link to this

I had to take MARTA once, for a class. I was cured of MARTA that day. I saw a group of young men jumping the turnstile. Alarms started going off. A police officer was talking to two other officers about 100 feet away. I thought, well of course these young men had paid since the officers were taking no notice. However, I don’t think you can prepay for permission to grab other people and their property, which is what they did next. They ran off as the police WALKED toward them.

By Bucky

February 9, 2007 8:22 AM | Link to this

Every now and then Cynthia gets it correct, this is one of those times. Harold is an idiot and doesn’t know what he’s talking about. What IS he talking about? He’s the kind of person who probably rides MARTA and strolls up and down the aisles yelling and screaming at people daring them to a confrontation. Yeah, MARTA is safe for nutjobs like you, isn’t it Harold? The problem is the rest of civilized society is not comfortable having to sit next to crazy people like you.

Cynthia is right, MARTA isn’t safe after dark. It would be better if we allowed citizens to carry weapons, THEN it would be safe. At least we would have a fighting chance against the muggers and rapists who use it to move N,S,E,W in the city, which is a whole ‘nother reason not to use the dumb system.

By SharonH

February 9, 2007 8:23 AM | Link to this

You don’t feel safe based on a lack of visible police presence. You must live a very sheltered life! I ride MARTA daily, have encountered no problems in almost 20 years of riding(off and on), NONE, I have never even so much as been solicited for money. I am now a commuter after having my car broken into 4 times, yeah but you don’t feel safe on MARTA, whatever Cynthia. Way to play into stereotypes. The biggest threat I have faced on MARTA are surly workers who hate their job and who have no interest in helping you unless you’re one of the White surburbanites that MARTA values so much, after all their 1.75 is worth so much more than mine.

By Jaynie

February 9, 2007 8:25 AM | Link to this

Harold is a ‘tard. Ignore him.

By Heather

February 9, 2007 8:26 AM | Link to this

Crime occurs quite often when people get off the train and walk home. The Oakland City Station, Hightower Station and the West End station are 3 of the worst. People are often robbed and beaten as they leave the station. It is not reported to Marta police because the crime occurred off of marta property. But it is still related to Marta. The crime is reported to atlanta police and most often not related back to marta. Marta is not safe, but neither are the areas of town that the 3 above mentioned marta stations are in. I cannot speak for stations in other parts of the city, but i can speak for these 3 stations. You may get robbed getting off marta here, but you may also be robbed just driving your car down streets in this area.

By john

February 9, 2007 8:28 AM | Link to this

Chill Harold…you’re gonna have a heart attack. You need some anger-management dude. If you feel safe, you can ride Marta. Others don’t feel safe and don’t have to ride Marta. Its a free country man. All caps is bad!

By ISIDINGO

February 9, 2007 8:31 AM | Link to this

I think the true issue comes down to race. I have used MARTA all my life I have taken it work DAILY as well as to sporting events, cultural events, doctor’s appointments, church, to the grocery store, to the shopping mall, etc. All of this and I have access to a personal automobile, I choose to ride MARTA because it is convinent, it picks me up in front of my home and drops me off everywhere in the city I need to go. Now I mentioned RACE, the only time you will typically see caucasians riding MARTA is to sporting events or to the airport and you have the rare few that will use it as their primary commute to work. MARTA is jokingly nicknamed Moving African-Americans Rapidly Thru Atlanta cause of its majority Black rideship. The older stations that are typically in african american communities you rarely see officers and this is coming from someone African American. Now if you go to the Majority white community you will see MARTA officers Standing around several, you pick up the Police phone they answer immediately but you go to the black areas you will pick up the phone for assistance and the phone will just ring and ring and ring… well you get the point. The buses that service the majority white communities are typcially new but the ones servicing the black and hispanic neighborhoods are old and frequently break down.

Security is hardly MARTA’s biggest problem. Now I am an African American man 5’11 150 i have never felt threatened on MARTA. My grandmother, Mother, Aunts and female cousins rode and still ride MARTA frequently. I think the issue is this image of the SOUTHERN DAMSEL in distress. Even at the lastest time of night there are plenty of People on MARTA trains and stations. Some women and men are so scared of socially speaking to someone that they are afraid to ask for help from other Atlantans for directions or assistance. That is hardly MARTA’s problem the problem is with that person. NOONE will sit by while a woman, man or child, young or elder is attacked and not step in to assist them. I have seen where groups of people have reprimanded young men and women for their Language, Loud Music and refusing to give up their seats to elder Patrons, this is Very common and you will see it IF YOU RIDE MARTA. If you are only ride MARTA every blue moon of course it is Foreign territory. MARTA police is only half of MARTA’s security its riders are the Other Half. If you see something happening and you don’t say something it is your APATHY that is the problem not MARTA’s Security

By JB

February 9, 2007 8:33 AM | Link to this

My wife and I ride to work from East Point Every Day. We never feel threatened, and I don’t worry if she rides home alone later. We both have occasions where we stay after work for drinks with coworkers and then ride home after dark. I feel much safer on MARTA than I do on the roads in this town. We also walk to the station from our home in the Center Park Neighborhood in East Point.

By jt

February 9, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this

As a man who uses the Linbergh Station daily, I can tell you that MARTA is NOT safe. There is a police precinct right there, but there never seem to be any police any where around - they certainly aren’t present on the train platform. There were none when a group of thugs went around shoving MARTA patrons. They weren’t there when an African American woman was passing out anti-white pamphlets. They aren’t there when the drunk and homeless wander around begging for money.

So where is this intense police presence?

MARTA, whose own chairman of the board was a welfare mother living in the projects, is an organization that has no idea about who its patrons really are….nor does it care.

By Cat

February 9, 2007 8:38 AM | Link to this

I’m a petite woman in her 30’s, and I’ve been riding the East/West line every weekday for the past 8 years. I feel very safe, and see MARTA police at the train stations every day. Every. Day. You folks that say you never see MARTA officers, perhaps you don’t see them because you’re not really looking for them? They’re around, perhaps just hidden in plain sight.

That said, I do avoid taking the train alone after 7pm if possible. Not that I’ve ever had a problem on MARTA, just that I don’t like to travel alone at night - I don’t like to drive at night, either.

By Joeventures

February 9, 2007 8:39 AM | Link to this

I’ve ridden MARTA for years. At one time, I used to live in Smyrna, and it was faster for me to park at the Holmes station and ride MARTA to Five Points from there — never had an incident beyond some guy selling socks and incense in the afternoons. Even when I rode back to Holmes very late at night, my personal safety was never threatened.

There are some things MARTA could do to make the system safer.

First, enforce fare gates more vigorously. Anyone who evades fare should at least be stopped for a while as an officer checks the evader’s ID. It’s a very good way of catching people who have warrents out for their arrest.

Second, make the police presence visible on the trains. Plain clothes officers may help catch sock sellers, but they’re a very ineffective way to maintain order on the system. Maintaining order will have the greatest impact on the perception of safety.

Third, discontinue MPACT. This is the reason why it can be easier to see a MARTA police officer in a car than riding the system. I’ve heard about this program from several MARTA employees — all of whom acknowledge that MPACT’s approach lacks common sense.

Overall, I feel much safer on MARTA than I do driving Atlanta’s suburbs. Having ridden the system’s trains and busses at all hours of the night and day, I am confident in the safety and security of the system. However, this is an area where MARTA could really stand to improve its image.

By nomoresmartarider

February 9, 2007 8:40 AM | Link to this

I have not been a Marta rider…since the day a conductor got off the train at East Point and left it unattended and just sitting for 10 minutes with every door wide open on the train. Filed an official complaint…never heard a word from management about action taken, changes, reprimands or firing of conductors, etc, etc. The other conductor was not there to switch off at East Point and so the other one on duty just left 100’s of people and a mass transit system unprotected and totally at the mercy of whatever. This was after 9-11 and after the Spain terroist attack on mass transit. I have no faith in this organization. I will pollute the environment and clog the roads until the State/city take over this arrogant group of individuals.

By scott

February 9, 2007 8:40 AM | Link to this

Sure it would be nice to take Marta and never have to worry about crime but, “wake up” people,we do not live in Pleasantville.I use Marta everytime I go to the airport which occurs often. Though I am a 6ft tall male I still try and ride the lead car where the driver is. I do agree with the many people who see more MArta police in cars aroudn the city than I do City of Atlanta Police. Not a slam on APD just a but curious why this is. Marta had done a nice job of late and the product is very pleasant (I am speaking of trains here folks) and seems to be timely. Oh, and one last think to the person singing kudos for Marta hiring an African American female. Check your bigotry at the door next time.

By gary

February 9, 2007 8:41 AM | Link to this

Most of the women I know, and they appear to very smart women, feel like a stroll through downtown Baghdad is safer than riding MARTA after dark.

By Will

February 9, 2007 8:41 AM | Link to this

Thank you, Cynthia. Let’s be honest about this…if you were white and wrote this same column, someone would come out and call you racist. It is a truth that the majority of marta passengers along the airport route are minorities. Unless you’ve actually been a victim of crime in a certain spot, or seen it up close and in person, then the only reason to be fearful of the people you are around is their appearance and the associated stereotypes. Someone like Cynthia McKinney would certainly label this as racism.

By Linda

February 9, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this

I am a 40-something woman, and I commute by MARTA rail and bus every weekday, as early as the first bus at 5:37 a.m. and as late as 10:30 p.m. I have never been afraid on either the bus or the train. In the very early and very late hours, I make sure to get on the first rail car with the conductor, and I don’t read as I normally do during rush hour, but I have never felt as though I were in danger or needed to take other precautions. MARTA police are very seldom visible, either at stations or on trains, but, since most of the officers I’ve seen appear to be overweight and out of shape, I don’t think they could do very much more to protect me than I can by myself. I feel much safer on MARTA than I do walking down West Peachtree Street from the Arts Center Station.

By Greg

February 9, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this

You people are paranoid. I ride MARTA everyday for years and except for the bootleggers and homeless folks (which you can just ignore, btw), MARTA is safe. I do agree that the police presence has gone down since the threat level has been decreased.

However, to improve the system, there needs to be more people interested in the system. Reducing or eliminating use of MARTA WILL NOT help.

By Heather

February 9, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this

Bill, I agree with you. Why do Marta police drive up and down the street all day? The streets outside the marta station are to be patrolled by APD not Marta PD. They need to be on foot, in the stations and on the trains.

Harold, chill out, man. You’re gonna have a heart attack. Slow down on the caps- use some anger management techniques.

By ms ssam

February 9, 2007 8:45 AM | Link to this

I have been thrilled to ride the MARTA train since the EW opened in ‘79. Two white teenage girls going the the Who concert at the Omni by ourselves. What freedom! I grew up with older relatives who remembered riding the trolley from their ‘suburbs’ (one West End, one Kirkwood)down to Rich’s. Downtown. My two daughters and I ride every chance we get, although I will say East Point is my preferred NS station, and one (summer) night when we decided to stay dntwn late I did a lot of praying btween Oakland City and getting my car back on Main Street pointed back home. My daughters both want to attend college in town, partly because of the train. I would be happy to see more MARTA officers ON the train, and PATROLLING the parking lots. I have some great pictures of MARTA on youtube which can be accessed on southsideatlantamemories.typepad.com as well as on yt. From one who lived in the ATL area bfore and after, MARTA trains are fantastic, and we’d better take care of them before we lose them, either to apathy, or to crime.

By No Marta For This Man

February 9, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this

Last summer I took Marta from the airport to Decatur. I had a broken arm at the time, was in a cast, and had a large piece of luggage that I maneuvered onto the train with my good arm. There was no room for the luggage in the usual area so I placed it next to me in partially in front of an empty seat. Two stops later a grubby overweight man (younger than me) told me that if I didn’t move my luggage so that he could sit down, he “would break my other arm”. I moved it as best as I could and he continued to rant and curse at me (even though there were empty seats a few rows away). He verbally threatened me until he got off the train a few stops later and never did sit down anywhere. Nobody on the train said anything (did I mention he was black and I was the only white person there?) Then, a self-proclaimed “Native American” started to rant about how he and the blacks in this country need to band together to take America away from the white people who stole it from them. The other black people on the train starting mumbling “ah-ha” and “yea, brother” all the while looking at the white boy with his arm in a cast. Needless to say, I felt very threatened and, of course, never saw any cops during the entire trip. I will never, ever, ever, take Marta again.

By FL Resident

February 9, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this

I’m a female Florida resident who visits ATL often, and almost always take the train from my downtown hotels to Buckhead and other destinations, and have never felt unsafe. However, there have been young male riders who I thought I had to stare down to let them know I was not intimidated by them.

By Lou

February 9, 2007 8:51 AM | Link to this

Hey Harold, please turn off the caps lock. We all get your points.

I feel safe on MARTA, but only during rush hour, and only Monday-Friday. The weekends are down right creepy. My “feel safe” factor decreases the further south I go. I ride daily from Chamblee to Five Points, and between 7am and 6pm, I’m comfortable.

I do feel MARTA picks and chooses where to put more of a presence. I also feel extremely unsafe on the East/West line. I walk from Five Points to the GWCC, because I feel safer on the street.

What does scare me about MARTA is the lack of knowledge by MARTA personnel. They don’t know what’s going on half the time. The other thing that scares me is all the delays and problems MARTA has all the time. What the heck is wrong that EVERYDAY there’s a 10-30 minute delay for a train??? You could call that a safety concern, because people get angry and when people get angry, they get stupid.

My biggest complaint on MARTA isn’t safety. You learn how to protect yourself and move on. I don’t make eye contact with anyone. I don’t respond to people asking for money. I know where all the exits are. No, my biggest complaint is waiting 30 minutes for a train at 7:15am on a Tuesday. The service stinks.

I also feel fairly safe in the parking lot, but I always park under a light. As a single female, I’d do that anywhere, not just at MARTA.

It’s about having street smarts. With all that said, I did feel much safer on the MBTA in Boston than I ever have on MARTA. I was on the T at midnight, and never once looked over my shoulder. I can’t say that about MARTA at 9pm.

Here’s a huge different, in my experience, between the two systems. Riders on the “T” policed each other. Riders on MARTA hope that someone else will do the police work.

By RhondaA

February 9, 2007 8:51 AM | Link to this

I take marta everyday. I think that there should be more marta cops on the train. Everyday someone will ge on the train between North Springs and East Point stations selling something, drinking, or just using a lot of profanity. Yesterday, there was a young man on the train when we boarded at North Springs bragging about how high he was and he was drinking from a Jack Daniels bottle. He was saying that he was on Heroine and other drugs. We need marta police on the trains. Please!

By sarah

February 9, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this

I was accosted by a man on Feb. 5, 2007 at the Indian Creek Marta Station. This man deliberately went out of his way to touch my body. My son and I had to fiend for ourselves because the MARTA police force was nowhere to be found. This occurred around 7:35am. I reported the problem to the headquarter office and to the Indian Creek station and one idiotic MARTA official even asked “Where was I touched” as if that mattered. I was asked to come in a file a report but I refused because if the police force was around I could have made it then. I know they couldn’t prevent what happened but they sure could have been there to PROTECT AND SERVE. The MARTA administration is a JOKE

By Porkins

February 9, 2007 8:55 AM | Link to this

Jeffrye,

Get over yourself.

By ISIDINGO

February 9, 2007 8:56 AM | Link to this

What alot of people do not understand is that MARTA is having to run on a Skeleton Budget it is the ONLY public transportation system in the country that doesn’t recieve a great amount of Federal funds.

The only people you have bothering you even when the train is packed are Homeless people who are trying to “get” enough money so they can pay to say in the downtown mission. Yes you have your drug addicts but they are not as bold as you might think. They will not attack you when the train is crowded. Typcially the violent attacks that i have seen have been amongst TEENAGERS who are fighting other TEENAGERS that is not a problem for MARTA that is a problem for parents who have poor supervison. CHeck your children and alot of the problems in Atlanta would be solved. Also when I do see something strange like other concern passengers I will use my cell phone. The Apathetic it ain’t me so it is not my business mentality is why crime is up Nation wide. When communities looked after each other instead of looking out solely for self the nation was alot safer. So you can’t blame just MARTA any crime in atlanta is due to citizen APATHY.

By Brad

February 9, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this

HEY HAROLD TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK PLEASE!

By who cares

February 9, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this

Marta doesn’t go anywhere or pick up anywhere so who cares.. Who rides this thing anyways?

I feel safe when i am armed and no one sits near me.

By DailyRider

February 9, 2007 9:11 AM | Link to this

Ya know…what do you consider crime? I consider daily watching folks harass me and sell bootleg CDs and Movies on the train crime. I also consider vagrancy a crime and daily I see stinky smelly homeless people taking up two seats during business rush hour so that they can sleep. Disturbing the peace is a crime, I have to listen to punk riders hip hop being played WAY to loud…I don’t feel unsafe, I just feel disgusted and annoyed. I live next to a Marta Station and I ride for the environment and to support the system, but I think MARTA is far from a pleasant experience and filled with way too many undesirable trashy rude riders.

By Gayle

February 9, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this

I ride MARTA and don’t fear for my safety necessarily, however, if you go to any other major city, including NYC, you DO see some kind of personnel on or around the platform. Anyone on this blog read about the woman who was kidnapped and raped at the Lindbergh station? She leaned on her horn when approached at her car in the parking garage and not a soul came to her rescue. Where was the MARTA employee who was supposed to be on duty? Probably shoveling some fast food down their fat, lazy throat somewhere else.

By Ed

February 9, 2007 9:14 AM | Link to this

It depends on the time of day, the event I am traveling to and the area. If there are lots of people from the suburbs on the train for a daytime sporting event, I have no issue. At night in places like Five Points, never do I do that or allow my family to, its a risk I won’t take.

By dj

February 9, 2007 9:18 AM | Link to this

Feelings, nothing more than feelings…

Feel safe… ride MARTA (like I do, at any time… never seen a crime, a fight, etc.)

Feel unsafe… don’t ride MARTA.

How many times can the AJC reinvent this same blog?

By DailyRider

February 9, 2007 9:22 AM | Link to this

Ya know…what do you consider crime? I consider daily watching folks harass me and sell bootleg CDs and Movies on the train crime. I also consider vagrancy a crime and daily I see stinky smelly homeless people taking up two seats during business rush hour so that they can sleep. Disturbing the peace is a crime, I have to listen to punk riders hip hop being played WAY to loud…I don’t feel unsafe, I just feel disgusted and annoyed. I live next to a Marta Station and I ride for the environment and to support the system, but I think MARTA is far from a pleasant experience and filled with way too many undesirable trashy rude riders.

By Leo Brown

February 9, 2007 9:24 AM | Link to this

It is very unfortunate that the masses who could actually benefit from using public transportation do not. I’m talking mostly about middle-class Americans. I wholeheartedly agree that more and higher visibility by MARTA Law Enforcement is warranted. I am not a resident of the area, but do visit a couple of times a year, and have plenty of experience using the train system, mostly North/South line. I will admit that there are times when it’s slightly uncomfortable, just based on the body language and eye contact that is made with certain other riders who “appear” to be looking to cause trouble. However, I have NEVER encountered, nor seen, any activity of the sort during my use of the system.

As the City continues to grow and bring in thousands of new residents annually, my hope is that more people will get onboard and make the system more successful. Also, bringing more college students intown (new GA State Dorms) is going to help, because I believe they will also become patrons of the system.

While policing can go part of the way to increasing safety, the real key is usage. Without high usage, fear of safety, whether perceived or otherwise, will never improve to a great degree.

By Safety is a Joke

February 9, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this

All seven times, during the middle of the day, I have ridden MARTA I have run into direlects who are either acting crazy by themselves or trying to intimidate me. I would only ride MARTA in an extreme emergency. I knew one woman who said she had ridden MARTA home from the airport one night around midnight, and that she felt totally confortable. I think she must have been totally oblivious to her surroundings. What a shame that what could be an excellent alternative is not safe. I might add that on one of the trips I took home from the airport I was approached by an unsavorably character trying to put his arm around me. I had to get up and move to another seat. This happened with a so-called security officer sitting right across the aisle from me, without her doing a thing, but, to continue reading her book. Total joke.

By Scott Case

February 9, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this

I like the smell of vomit and rotting corpse on the trains. Also, the young black youth are so friendly. At least we have TV’s. That’s the most important thing. Also, the Decatur station sure is coming along. Everytime I walk by it’s 1 redneck and 2 Mexicans picking their a$$. Maybe they should get the people who can throw up a super Wal Mart in 1 month to fix it. Let’s put the anta back in Atlanta.

By Karen

February 9, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this

I am an almost 40 year old female and I’ve ridden Marta consistently for 17 years. I feel pretty safe, but I agree that there is a major difference in the north/south line and east/west. I very rarely see Marta police on the system, but see them very regularly sitting in their cars at the Chamblee station. I felt safe at Peachtree Center any time, night or day, and I do at Chamblee as well, but the Arts Center Station is a whole different thing. It feels dirty, and there is definitely a different atmosphere. I would ride after dark, but I would be very alert to what was going on around me.

By RC

February 9, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this

MARTA’s reputation for being unsafe is a reflection of Atlanta’s reputation for being unsafe. Most of this has to do with racial perceptions and in its simplest form can be stated as: Blacks moved in. Whites were forced out. Blacks cause crime. Therefore, Atlanta is unsafe because of blacks. Thus it follow’s that since everyone knows that MARTA was created for blacks, and blacks ride MARTA, MARTA is therefore unsafe.

Fair or not, that is the perception of large majority of the white people who don’t live in Atlanta and/or don’t ride MARTA.

Coincidentally enough, whites are supposedly moving back into Atlanta in fair numbers because we hear a lot about “gentrification” which fairly or not translates to: Whites are stealing black folks homes and forcing them out (and demanding that the city pick up the trash on time).

Will these same newly arriving whites start riding MARTA, forcing the blacks off, thus lowering crime and making MARTA safe (for the first time since it was created for blacks who weren’t safe to be around in the first place)? Only time and an objective analysis of crime statistics will tell.

Meanwhile, perceptions can be a very limiting thing, and fair or not, MARTA, Atlanta, and all commuters regardless of their race, creed, color, nationality, or metropolitan county of origin have a lot to overcome.

By CandlerStation

February 9, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this

Ya know…what do you consider crime? I consider daily watching folks harass me and sell bootleg CDs and Movies on the train crime. I also consider vagrancy a crime and daily I see stinky smelly homeless people taking up two seats during business rush hour so that they can sleep. Disturbing the peace is a crime, I have to listen to punk riders hip hop being played WAY to loud…I don’t feel unsafe, I just feel disgusted and annoyed. I live next to a Marta Station and I ride for the environment and to support the system, but I think MARTA is far from a pleasant experience and filled with way too many undesirable trashy rude riders.

By Chris

February 9, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this

Safe? It is as safe as anywhere.

MARTA does have a very tough job. It is called perception. We all have a part to do in safety. I ride MARTA every day from Lindbergh to Peachtree Center. I feel unsafe on the walk to my office building. All the bums who urinate on the buildings and hide in the coves to get warm scare me more than on Marta. Anytime I have told Marta about a bum asking for money they chase them off for me. Also I see the police and they do have an office at Lindbergh. They patrol that station on foot and bicycle all the time. They can’t be everywhere all at once. Yes, they can higher more of them. I guess it is like the scarecrow in the yard but after a while even the bird knows it is just a scarecrow. Safety comes from everyone looking out for each other. We all have to be on the lookout and call the police for help. No one needs to try to be Superman but we can all help. That lady who was raped said in the paper she honked the horn of her car and screamed very loud but no one cared to help her.

Safe is a concept in your head.

By ISIDINGO

February 9, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this

I agree with Scott. YOu have to use a certain level of common sense. When I was an Intern in the New York city/ Jersey Area i rode the PATH and the METRO often to work, heck everyday to and from. ANd I always rode in the lead car I can defend myself but the further you are from the lead car the less safe it is IN ANY CITY not just on MARTA. That is like walking down and street with no lights. YOU have to use common sense. If you don’t have that then you might need to stay home watching Oprah. I had a female friend who rode MARTA for the first time to work and asked me about safety. I instructed her to ride in the front of the train. She asked me don’t you ride it daily, Yes i replied but that is just common public safety on ANY public transportaion system in London or Portland or Boston of Chicago, you just have to use common sense.

NO public transportation system is perfect NONE. For one postive experience you will have a negative one. SO lets just all be realistic. If you go down all the comments for everyone good one you have a bad one, that can be said of anything that is discussed in thee blogs for everyone PRO there is a CON for every Advantage there is a Disadvantage that is JUST LIFE.

By Naked Emperor

February 9, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this

I am also a former MARTA rider both to work and the airport.

Without major security changes in the system, the only way that I will ride the train again is with my pistol in my shoulder holster.

The last train rides I had (from the airport) was a filthy experience. Griffiti, chicken bones, and empty food wrappers everywhere. Loud, unwashed folks looked like the train was their home and were angry that I dared to enter it. Unintelligible announcements over the loudspeaker.

Atlanta will never be a truly cosmopolitan city until it has a transit system that works. Look at New York and Paris. Those systems are over 100 years old and shine by comparison to the rathole we call the MARTA train line.

I pity the folks that have no other transportation to work.

By Ann

February 9, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this

I’ve lived in Atlanta since ‘99 and have taken the train on countless occastions, at all hours of the day or night.

I have yet to see a Marta Police Officer on a train; it’s a bit like the Loch Ness Monster - I’m starting to wonder if they really exist!

By armed and dangerous

February 9, 2007 9:53 AM | Link to this

I hope to God I never need help on MARTA because I KNOW there wouldn’t be any.

By SteveO

February 9, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this

A. HAROLD TURN OFF THE FREAKING CAPS LOCK!!! IT’S ON THE LEFT SIDE ABOVE THE SHIFT KEY!11!!

B. I ride MARTA late night often and never feel concerned. Then again, I’m a guy, so it’s probably easier for me.

By Linda

February 9, 2007 9:57 AM | Link to this

The last time I rode MARTA was to the Olympic games in 1996, an unsettling experience to me and my family. I vowed after that not to ride MARTA as it was not worth the potential risks to personal safety. Having read the comments posted here, nothing has changed and might well be worse now. Putting off people’s real concerns on this matter of security lends credence to me my decision not to ride for years. To pooh-pooh these concerns says a whole a lot about those who are in charge of doing anything about it. Like the DMV nightmare for driver license renewal, nothing changes that recurring theme of incompetence either.

By ken

February 9, 2007 9:57 AM | Link to this

I am a man who has been taking MARTA to my office in Dunwoody for the past 6 years, not once have i ever felt threatened or feared for my life. I feel very safe and have never had any problems. However i can understand why some women might be a little fearful, when i started using MARTA, there were police all over the train going from car to car, and now i haven’t seen that in years. When ever someone was using profanity or playing loud music, they would nip it in the bud. Now when i hear loud music or profanity i nip it in the bud. I think a lot of comments being made are by people who have never taken MARTA for a period of time. When you live in a city, homeless people , drug addicts and mental people are part of the package. I feel much safer on MARTA than the subway when i lived in New York. In closing i do say they need to make the cops more visible on the train.

By ryan

February 9, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this

Okay. 2 incidents per week. This is such a miniscule figure - check the following.

The AJC article also quoted ridership at “more than 182 million per year.” For the sake of simplicity, let’s round that down to 182 million, then divide by 52 to get weekly MARTA ridership: 3,500,000 (3 and a half million per week). Divide it by 2 (the number of incidents per week), and you get 1,750,000 - that’s 1:1.75 million.

So when you ride MARTA, your chances of being robbed or beaten up are 1 in 1,750,000.

That’s a little more thatn 1/3 of the Atlanta region’s population, folks. If the whole Metro Atlanta area’s crime stats matched these, you’d have 3 robberies or assults per week for the entire 20+ county region. If you don’t feel comfortable riding MARTA because you have a 1/1,750,000 chance of being injured, robbed, or beaten up, you probably shouldn’t even leave the house .

By judy

February 9, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this

I never see cops on the trains. if anywhere, they’re congregating together up by the “turnstiles” blabbing amongst themselves (when Unions go bad)….useless fat pieces of garbage. i would really hate to be in a situation where i was in trouble and needed their assistance…………

By QC

February 9, 2007 10:02 AM | Link to this

I use Marta Monday-Friday and i’m on the train very early in the morning. No i don’t feel safe all the time why are there not Marta Police on the trains all during the day? These high school kids get on there…cussing, fussing and being soooo disrespectful. But let there some type big convention, or famous speaker, etc come to Atlanta, you can find Marta police on every car…so why wait until something bad happens, we need protection on the trains 7 days a week so step up to the plate **Marta, stop taking the fair up, and pull some of these cops down and place them on the train so “we” can feel safe, would’nt you want someone to do the same for YOU88

By Morris

February 9, 2007 10:02 AM | Link to this

MARTA needs to target the white demographic. It needs their support. It needs to show them that MARTA is not just for blacks as many whites want to believe. It needs to show them that MARTA is not just “a train that doesn’t go anywhere I want to go”. It needs to show them that it has an extensive bus system too. It needs to show them that it is responsive to their needs. It needs to show them that that it will take them to where they want to go. It needs to show them that it can do this safely, swiftly, and more cheaply than by automobile. It needs to spiff itself up. It needs to present a public image that is friendly, courteous, knowledgable, safety concious and willing to help. Right now it does none of those things. It seems to operate as if it exists just to for the sake of existing. Who wants to do deal with an organization that apprarently doesn’t give a damn about getting your business? There is a huge portion of the metro-population looking a commute solution. These folks are white. It is alright to market to white people. They have money to burn. Go for it. Don’t be stupid.

By Miss P

February 9, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this

Cynthia, I definitely agree with you. I take Marta to work everyday. I work an earlier shift so I am never caught at 5 Points station when its dark outside. I see Marta cops (every once in a while) at stations, but never on the actual trains which is when I have the most concern for my safety.

I wish they would do something about the peddlers that post outside their station and roam between the train cars. Outside of safety concerns, the trains are extremely dirty and smell horrible. And there seems to be a maintenance delay or issue at least twice a week on the East/West line. Why do their trains come so far apart?

By AJC is the NY Post of Atlanta

February 9, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this

Stolen from another blog after a similarly pathetic misinformation letter to the editor:

What’s so annoying about this letter is that it takes incidents that are infrequent and make them sound like they’re happening on an every minute basis. While I’m not going to say that none of these events happen, I haven’t been panhandled on the train in over a year. I have never ever seen someone with a “boom radio” (what is this, the 70s?). People do sometimes listen to their headphones too loud and it is annoying but has nothing to do with safety. While I have no doubt that most of the events descibed happen on a system as large as MARTA, I do think the letter gives a grossly inaccurate view of what it is like to use MARTA on a daily basis. Unfortunately, for most of metro Atlanta, such letters and the associated verbal stories traded around their offices are the only information about MARTA they get.

While the writer does have a point about the lack of police presence on the trains (since they’re off protecting automobiles in parking lots) it does seem like there have been more officers on the trains lately. You’ve got to love the “decent” remark at the end but I’m use to being indirectly being called a scumbag when non-riders refer to all MARTA riders with such terms.

Also troublesome is how often the AJC prints letters full of unverifiable alligations. The Vent columns are even worse. I’ve seen vents dozens of times stating that GA400 tolls were suppose to be removed long ago when in reality the bonds are not paid off until 2011. But the AJC continues to give a forum to so many transporation myths and half-truths that serve only to misinform the public as to the true costs and utility of different modes of transporation. As a friend who moved here recently from NYC said, it reflects poorly on the paper to pass long information of such dubious truth.

The interesting thing is that as the crime statistics show, MARTA’s OVERALL crime rate is a bit over 3% (per 1000), which is the same as that of the violent crime rate of Alpharetta and one tenth of Alpharetta’s property crime rate. Obviously MARTA is not a city so you wouldn’t expect there to be as many opportunities for property crimes, but it would seem there is more opportunity for violent crime and yet the rates are similar (MARTA’s is probably lower when the property crimes are removed from the crime rate). But Alpharetta does not have the same “oh my God, we’re going to die” perception as MARTA does. Letters like the above only add to the false perception and I suspect the writer was grossly exaggerating their experiences.

It would be interesting to do a full crime comparison between MARTA and some of our “better” cities and see if we could get the AJC to publish it.

By Rich Davis

February 9, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this

MARTA wants to attract more middle class riders. Their strategy of using plainclothes police officers in high incident areas may have been effective but it is perception that keeps people off the trains.

There is a perception that there are no police when no one ever sees a uniform. There is a perception that there is no law enforcement when people are allowed to spit, eat, drink, smoke, sit on the steps and listen to loud music.

Enforce the rules of behavior, make the police visible again, and you will immediately see a decline in serious incidents as well as an increase in ridership.

By Lisa Marie

February 9, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this

I ride Marta every day to work. I am often riding after dark, I feel pretty safe once in the station but not always walking to it. I try to keep an eye on what is going on around me and if I don’t feel comfortable, I move to a new location. After a woman was abducted at the College Park train station a couple of years ago, I started waiting to park in a closer spot when I new I would be coming home late. I also would ask a Marta Police officer or Station Attendent to walk me to my car if I felt unsafe. For a while I use to see a Marta Police Officer at the station but now I usually see them either huddled together at East Point near the exit or in their car traveling from College Park to East Point. I really like riding Marta because I can read my book on the 15 minute ride downtown and will continue but I think that Marta Police should ride the trains and be more visible. This morning, I didn’t see a single officer on my way in to work.