Sat night - drive or take El? (Chicago: crime, dangerous)

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by andrew61

I wonder if they ever stop and think about the fact that they're making themselves into easy targets for muggers.

Or rapists. It is sad that people don't think about these things.

[OhAcid]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

I guess you have to drive then, because apparently simply standing on an EL platform is "doing something stupid".

'To die over an iPhone? Senseless' - Chicago Tribune

What kind of logic led you to that conclusion? I'm sure you know how many people use the L and have absolutely no problems at all. One instance of theft, or two - including the incident on the purple line really has little to do with everyone who utilizes public transit - as most people don't encounter these situations.

So yes, I would consider playing around on your iPhone or using your Mac on the L as examples of poor street smarts or "doing something stupid".

[swirlgirl]

I live closest to the Wilson station, and haven't had any issues with it yet. I'd rather wait with other people than walk alone from a further station at night, honestly.

And yes, I have enough street smarts to know not to call attention to myself; it's a shame what happened this week, but the media is also blowing things way out of proportion instead of focusing on common sense safety strategies.

Thanks for the feedback & insight.

[prairiestate]

Originally Posted by OhAcid

What kind of logic led you to that conclusion? I'm sure you know how many people use the L and have absolutely no problems at all. One instance of theft, or two - including the incident on the purple line really has little to do with everyone who utilizes public transit - as most people don't encounter these situations.

So yes, I would consider playing around on your iPhone or using your Mac on the L as examples of poor street smarts or "doing something stupid".

Read the article. The woman who was killed wasn't playing with an iPhone. She was just standing in the El station when someone else was robbed. As the robber was running through the station, she got knocked down the stairs and died.

You said bad things only happen on the El to people who are doing something stupid. By that logic then, simply standing in an El station must be stupid.

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by swirlgirl

I live closest to the Wilson station, and haven't had any issues with it yet.

You have been lucky. I wish continued luck to you.

When it is warm out the area around that station is a zoo.

Why did you ask the question to begin with if you think that the Wilson station is safe and you have had good experiences with it?

[OhAcid]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

Read the article. The woman who was killed wasn't playing with an iPhone. She was just standing in the El station when someone else was robbed. As the robber was running through the station, she got knocked down the stairs and died.

You said bad things only happen on the El to people who are doing something stupid. By that logic then, simply standing in an El station must be stupid.

Whatever point you're trying to make is still irrelevant. Chances of you being knocked over and killed, or robbed today at your nearest L stop is one in a million. Accidents happen, that doesn't mean the L is particularly dangerous.

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by OhAcid

Whatever point you're trying to make is still irrelevant. Chances of you being knocked over and killed, or robbed today at your nearest L stop is one in a million. Accidents happen, that doesn't mean the L is particularly dangerous.

The odds of getting in a car accident are almost certainly higher than something happening to you on the El.

[prairiestate]

Originally Posted by OhAcid

Whatever point you're trying to make is still irrelevant. Chances of you being knocked over and killed, or robbed today at your nearest L stop is one in a million. Accidents happen, that doesn't mean the L is particularly dangerous.

Agreed. I'm a white guy took the red line from 95th and the Dan Ryan today. My point is simply that you are wrong when you say that nothing bad can happen to you unless you do something stupid. It's quite unlikely, but hardly impossible.

[OhAcid]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

Agreed. I'm a white guy took the red line from 95th and the Dan Ryan today. My point is simply that you are wrong when you say that nothing bad can happen to you unless you do something stupid. It's quite unlikely, but hardly impossible.

You're playing the devils advocate for a one in a million, extremely unlikely situation. Like I said, accidents happen. It would be just as easy to say that the OP could be shoved or fall down the staircase in her own apartment complex. If the OP had been asking about the general risk of walking under a viaduct, crossing the streets of Chicago, the chance of falling onto the L tracks or down a flight of stairs maybe this would be more relevant. Concerning safety, however, I still maintain that the L is perfectly safe unless you're attracting unwanted attention. Voluntary or not.

[CoolSocks]

To answer the OP's original question (even though the day has already passed lol) when I planned on taking the el late at night, like after midnight, people just told me to sit in a car near the operator and I would be fine. The only time I was worried was a random weekday when I was going to a show and planned on taking the el at 1 or 2 am because some people told me that it's more dangerous late at night on a weekday than a weekend night because less people are around (I'm not sure if that's true, but it sounds logical) Surprisingly though there were were a lot of people out late that night and I didn't have an issue.