There are many interesting transit experiences I could detail but I chose this one because of the impact it has on me every time I travel using public transit. One summer night during my high school years, my father and I were traveling home from Manhattan. I was taking an SAT class through the Let’s Get Ready program. My father, being the over-protective parent he is, insisted on traveling with me every night.
We got on the 1 train and then transferred to the A train taking the two seat-er meant for those with disabilities. I took the seat closest to the door and my dad the one closer to the conductor’s door. We had stopped at the candy store and I began to indulge in some chocolate rocks. We talked about my day and what he did for the three-hour duration of my class. Then I began reading my book and he rested his eyes. As we got closer and closer to our stop, the train began to empty.
Around Broad Channel, I looked up from my book to find an older man staring at me. I made eye contact thinking it would make him aware that I knew he was looking and hopefully he would look away, but that seemed to intrigue him more. My dad at this point was deep in his meditation, he insists that he never actually sleeps. I realized from the way I was hunched over and how my dad was slouching, the man could not see my father and thought I was alone. I looked again at the last sentence I was reading in my book giving the man the benefit of the doubt and some time to look away.
Yet, when I looked up again, he was looking. The next stop was approaching and he began to walk towards me. He had a creepy smirk on his face. I leaned back purposefully to reveal that I was not alone, keeping my eyes on his expression. As I did, almost immediately, he stopped and swayed into the space right before the doors. When the next stop had finally come, he exited. I had not realized but I was holding my breath in fear of what he could have said or done. I am sure that if I had been alone that night, this story would have had a very different ending.
Now, as I take the subway alone on a daily basis, I am constantly reminded of that night. I am grateful for the services the transit system provides, but that night taught me that though we may come from the same place or even live in each other’s neighborhoods, we are strangers. That being said I still believe in and have great faith in humanity, but I also try to be realistic. I try to use great caution and practice great awareness anytime I travel, especially when I travel alone.
