Do you use MARTA? (Atlanta, Boston: dangerous, trains, car)

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by MattCW

So you expect the MARTA police to be omnipresent? Maybe you should try lowering your standards to realistic.

Other systems seem to be able to do it. Maybe they have better camera surveillance? I didn't see the Seattle transit police around and suddenly they appeared in force to get the fare-evader, same in Houston.

[MattCW]

The systems you mention are also light-rail systems running more or less in or very near streets. How do you get police down to a train running in a tunnel on a moment's notice?

[alco89]

Originally Posted by MattCW

The systems you mention are also light-rail systems running more or less in or very near streets. How do you get police down to a train running in a tunnel on a moment's notice?

That's what I was thinking.

And I wonder if Mathman has been on MARTA in the last year or so. There's been drastic cutdowns on panhandling and improvements in rider behavior and police presence.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by MattCW

The systems you mention are also light-rail systems running more or less in or very near streets. How do you get police down to a train running in a tunnel on a moment's notice?

At the very next stop. That's where the police pile in. MARTA stops a lot.

[teachbeach]

We traveled only by MARTA when we visited Atlanta. Bought a pass at the airport and took it to Midtown to our hotel and then took MARTA all over the city. We loved it and after seeing some of the traffic jams that we didn't have to experience, we were thrilled. We also used the bus to get to some of the sights we wanted to visit (we were tourists) and would just ask the bus driver to let us know which stop to get off at for certain museums or restaurants. MARTA was great, highly recommend using it rather than fighting traffic and paying for parking. Got back on MARTA to go back to the airport in plenty of time to catch our flight home. Every station had an attendant that was pleasant and willing to help; and one time I used the help phone to determine which bus to get on to get to a certain site.

[cqholt]

I have witnessed MARTA PD handle out of control riders. They will ask the person to leave or stop, if they disobey or refuse, the police will escort they off the train and pit them in custody. MARTA PD has stepped by.

[MattCW]

Actually no, MARTA doesn't stop "a lot." If an incident happens on leaving say Lindbergh, it's a 5 minute trip to Buckhead, the next station, and that's assuming the police are around. It's sometimes hard to negotiate our side roads to get places, and the police aren't there just to watch onboard the trains, they're concerned about trespassers, graffitists, thieves, etc. which can strike all along the line. It's also a somewhat bigger system with 48 miles of track.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by cqholt

I have witnessed MARTA PD handle out of control riders. They will ask the person to leave or stop, if they disobey or refuse, the police will escort they off the train and pit them in custody. MARTA PD has stepped by.

I've seen MARTA police escort a bass player out of Peachtree Center. The guy was playing for money; he was entertaining and good. MARTA PD, at work protecting us.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by MattCW

Actually no, MARTA doesn't stop "a lot." If an incident happens on leaving say Lindbergh, it's a 5 minute trip to Buckhead, the next station, and that's assuming the police are around. It's sometimes hard to negotiate our side roads to get places, and the police aren't there just to watch onboard the trains, they're concerned about trespassers, graffitists, thieves, etc. which can strike all along the line. It's also a somewhat bigger system with 48 miles of track.

Even on Light Rail, they won't stop at some random place for police. Light Rail requires a platform. Lindbergh and Buckhead is one of the longer stretches. Between the Airport and Five Points, there are 6 stops. When you are near downtown, stops are about a mile apart. It's pretty easy to walk between stations.

[Staysean23]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Not impressed by them. I remember in Seattle, the transit police poured into the train to get a fare-evader. Even in Houston, the police were on the train to get a fare-evader. I saw fare-evasion all the time on MARTA. Seemed strange to be approached by panhandlers on the platforms and trains. Think they paid to get in to ask for money? Don't think so.

Do you think they paid in NY Boston SF ? The pandhandlers are 10 times worst. It's mighty strange that you continue to use the same cities to prove point. You also only seem to pick controversial topics to post on.