Last week, we posted a new poll question asking readers, “Do you feel safe taking the #7 through the Rainier Valley?”
So far, 54% of 87 respondents say “no”, while 46% say “yes”.
What about you? Why or why not?
Metro’s Route 7 has been called the most dangerous in the city. Photo/do communications
Related:
- #7 Attacker Has 27-Page RAP Sheet (10/15/10)
- Developmentally Disabled Man Beaten Getting Off the #7 in Mt. Baker (10/8/10)
- Police: 10-Year-Old Gunshot Victim Shot Himself While Robbing Teen on Bus (8/18/10)
Who to know, where to eat & what to do in one of America’s most diverse zip codes!
{ 37 comments }
I could say yes as easily as I could say no, so I opted not to vote.
I could say yes, however, that answer depends on the time of day, the span of the route I’m riding in, the size of the bus, whether school is in session or out, whether community centers are open or closed, the season, the current weather…
I think all of that basically means riding the number 7 isn’t what one would call an experience that encourages one to feel ‘safe’, no.
This also raised the question for me, what would make riding the #7 a ‘safe’ experience- when the latest safety ‘thing’ was adding cameras to more buses, I didn’t feel safe. Metro PD trailing a bus in their car might make some feel safe, but if a bus needs to be trailed by Metro PD, isn’t that evidence of a safety problem? Maybe those officers need to ride buses- but then, that would be worrisome too- unless of course it became the norm for Metro PD all across the city- they don’t have nearly enough officers for that- which is a problem.
Crime happens (particularly robberies) on or around public transportation because of opportunity (hello, light rail stops) and motivation (desperation, turf wars, unemployment etc,) . The #7 happens to pass through a lot of neighborhoods and areas of the city where there is a lot of opportunity and motivation.
Part of the problem is the perception is metro experiences “isolated incidents” of crime; laughable, yet, probably the reason why they have such a tiny police force. It’s something like 50 cops for 1500 buses, and light rail. Stupid.
All that said, I know there has been talked of eliminating the #7 and I don’t think that’s a good idea and the mere suggestion shows a disconnect between anyone who would push that decision and those who ride the damn bus everyday, often multiple times a day. Like when they cut the 42 route and then had to reinstate it after the WTF outcry. Let’s not do that again. And that’s aside from the fact that eliminating the route does nothing to eliminate the problem.
I agree with Sable, it does depend on the time of day, just like being downtown, I make sure that I am out of there before dark. This means I won’t be doing a lot of shopping during the week because it gets dark so early now. It’s a shame that we pay all of this money for bus service and people don’t feel safe. What’s up with that?
How safe do people feel riding buses in other parts of town? How safe do people feel riding the #9? The 34? Light rail? A friend’s son (good-sized teen boy riding with other boys) was robbed of his iPod, his friend robbed of a cellphone, on the bus near Mt. Baker (not sure which number). They called the police, but it was a lost cause.
To me, it’s more about Do you feel safe using any kind of electronic device on public transit (PT)? Do you feel safe wearing any kind of expensive, or seemingly expensive, jewelry on PT? Do you feel safe wearing restrictive clothing that might inhibit running on PT?
My husband will read a book on the 7, but won’t listen to his iPod. He prefers I don’t call him when I know he’s on the bus so he doesn’t have to take out his phone.
No. I take the 7X twice a day, every day, from the very South end (Prentice Loop) to almost downtown. If I miss the last one home, I take a cab. Especially after dark. Why? Because when I’m on my way home after work, I don’t want to be chatted up by drunks and druggies, asked for money by homeless people, see anyone masturbate, spit, fight, yell or get mugged. I’ve given this route countless chances in the past but now I’m avoiding it if at all possible.
The 7X on the other hand has been great. Thanks for that.
VERY good point SolvayGirl. I’d say I ‘basically’ feel ‘safe’ riding the 9, the 8, the 42, the 72 or any other bus in Seattle no matter where it goes. But yes, when I’m on metro I’m hard pressed to take out my phone and chit chat or text at will. I hate that reality, but I also need my phone and am not trying to get robbed for any reason, so I keep it tucked away. I also don’t take it out when walking in certain neighborhoods no matter what time of day or who is around. But that’s only some neighborhoods. In others I feel safer and it’s not a problem for me. Which is a problem in and of itself.
I wish the question was also, “Do you feel embarrassed to ride the #7 bus”.
I cannot stand to be riding the bus and hear kids talking about all this n—- this and profanity.
To answer the question, when I ride the bus, I have that “I’m handing out free samples of a$$ kickings” look so people don’t bother me.
Hubby once overhead a group of teens discussing knives—and how the length of blade influences the time one does for the crime. Very educational!
At various times over the past 9 years I’ve been a consistent rider of the 7, 39, 42, 48, and lightrail. South of the ride free zone I’ve felt safe using a phone or listening to music on every route except the 7.
At the time I was riding the 42 it was basically paralleling the 7 route (traveling MLK instead of Rainier.) Why was the 42 a safer route? I don’t know. There’s just something about the 7.
An additional part of the issue is that there is no consequence if you are caught for a crime. All reward, no risk is a huge motivator. Additionally there is too much public tolerance for unsocial behavior of any kind. This is a citywide issue but particularly pronounced on the 7. There is no accountability for one’s actions, hence anything goes.
It’s been a while since i’ve been on the 7.. Guess I ought to check it out.
I figure I’d be more like Tasha, offended by the loudmouthed people with no manners or class. I don’t think i’d necessarily be afraid, the bus is filled with people with cellphones and the driver has access to the police easily enough… but I would be disgusted and grossed out sharing the bus with people like that.
My cousin got her necklace ripped off when she fell asleep on a subway train on her way home in the Queens. Despite the high crime statistics and hearing gunshots every night, she would never move to anywhere else in the country and she’s a high paid district attorney.
Public transportation, it is what it is.
“To answer the question, when I ride the bus, I have that “I’m handing out free samples of a$$ kickings” look so people don’t bother me.”
That’s the “we’re about to have a 3 legged race to the hospital” look.
Yes, I feel safe. I take the 7 all the time, including late at night, and I’ve come to realize that it’s fine. I think modern media creates a culture of fear, and the 7 is just one more of it’s victims. You never hear about the literally millions of safe trips on the 7 every year, all you hear is the teenager who got shot near a bus stop on S Henderson.
Part of the problem in the Southend, is that we create a nighttime atmosphere that fosters crime. After dark, our sidewalks are deserted and deeply shadowed. Businesses are closed and houses have shades drawn. There are no eyes on the street, and it creates far too much privacy for potential criminals. MLK is getting better, but Rainier still has this dark shadowy vibe to it. We need to up-zone Rainier Ave to encourage multi-story mixed-use buildings. This would mean more people could see the street from their apartment window, better lighting, and more normal people walking after dark.
Anyway getting back to the 7, I don’t think it’s actually dangerous, it just has a bad reputation.
I love the #7 bus after work about 5 pm. Or at 9:00 am on a Sunday. The diversity of people, the different languages being spoken– who needs to travel to third world countries. This is the bus that goes right through most of the celebrated zip code: 98118. I do leave the diamonds and gold jewelery at home, and I don’t own a kindle. If anybody wants to grab my library book, that’s okay. I
I always remember the time I was riding either the 42 or the 7 back from downtown in the afternoon, going down Rainier Avenue, and I look out the window and I see a police car in this store lot with some stranger beside it, hands against the car.
A person on the bus across the aisle from me looks out the window and and exclaims to a fellow passenger, “Hey! That’s Tyrone!”
I voted yes to feeling safe on the #7, but I usually only take it in the morning or early evening commute. I do love the comment though, am I embarrassed on the #7. Yes, frequently. No one messes with me, not because I look mean, but I think I’m just invisible in that middle aged lady kind of way.
What I hate is watching how the other bus riders treat each other, and I am sick of listening to these high school boys talking smack about how they’re ‘going to do’ some girl or another. For goodness sakes folks, can you raise these children with some respect please? I don’t expect them to be angels, but this is nasty.
I take the #7 when I have to. Some of the conversations I overhear are absolutely pathetic whether the people are talking smack about other riders, or based on what people wear or ethnicity or gender. Wish the bus drivers would stand up to the troublemakers on the bus.
Agree with anonymous. Riding the bus is a privilege, not the license to offend fifty other passengers all at once.
I live 2 blocks from the Rainier Ave S & S Willow stop for the #7, but choose to walk the mile each way to and from the Othello Light Rail station most days for my morning & evening commute to downtown.
I’ve been subjected to constant, aggressive, pointed anti-gay comments on the #7 (without any intervention by the driver, of course), but mostly I avoid the #7 because it’s so slow and so uncomfortable. It’s overcrowded, and seems to be an anything goes space, particularly for teens. If I’m going to be stuck on a bus for 45 minutes, at least I want to sit down and relax, rather than stand while listing to sexist, racist & homophobic commentary.
Even the 7X is low on my list. I’d rather grab the 9X and walk from 12th & Jackson to downtown, or take the 34X (assuming I wake up at the crack of dawn to catch it) – choices that I’ll be using more often now that it’s so dark in the morning and evening, which makes the trek to the Light Rail station start to feel less safe.
Dan, the Othello station and the corner there is just as bad as Rainier and certain corners. I’m very tired, just looked up one incident and there are many:
“posted 08/09/10 02:02 PM | updated 08/09/10 11:45 AM
Featured Post! | Comments : 24 | News
Two people attacked waiting for bus near Othello station ”
11:30 in the morning.
I have never seen the things people write about on the 7 and I’ve ridden it almost daily for several years. Sure, sometimes I’m the only Caucasian, but so what? I think what people are avoiding saying is that the ethnic diversity, certain races, make them uncomfortable.
I’ll probably take flak for that, but I stand by my words.
I feel safe on the #7, day or night. I’ve been riding it for a decade and have never had an incident where I felt threatened (although I have witnessed a few violent acts, a few arrests and tons of public intoxication and assorted illegal activity). However, like many posters above, I do feel embarrassed by the behavior and foul language displayed by many riders and by young people in particular.
” You never hear about the literally millions of safe trips on the 7 every year, all you hear is the teenager who got shot near a bus stop on S Henderson. ”
The one “near” the bus stop was the day before the ten year old shot himself “on the # 7″
I remember on the seven a couple years ago, a young African American girl (16-17) talking about the identity theft she was pulling at the bank she worked for (I wish I kenw what one)
I pretty much stopped riding the 7 from Rainier and Graham after my next door neighbor got beat up getting off the bus by a group of thugs. On occasion, I walk a mile the other direction and take the train. Otherwise, its worth it to drive. Or just plain walk.
Walk, Bike, Ride.
Walk, Bike, Ride.
Walk, Bike, Ride.
C’mon, man up. It’s only a beating, even stitches heal in a week or 2.
Do it for the environment, do it for the children.
S.F. Giants -2010 World Series Champions.
These guys stealing from people on the bus are packing concealed weapons, which is why they have the courage to do this.
Wear your NRA hat and jacket on the bus and make them think twice about who is riding next to them. You’ll be doing a service for everyone else on board, too.
I ride the 7 every day, often times coming home from work late at night. I’ve been asked for change outside the bus stop, but never been hassled. Sometimes kids riding it are loud, but isn’t that what your precious I-phone earbuds are for?
I’m with Ellen here; I think there’s a lot of fear-culture going around.
Ever wonder why Qwest put a fence around the substation yard at Rainier and Graham? It was because of the liability they faced after the assault that happened on their property.
Late nights on the 7 are a little nuts, and any bus with a lot of teens on it can get noisy and/or offensive–but I do feel as essentially safe on the 7 as I do on any Metro bus route.
Personal safety is always a roll of the dice. I was driving down Rainier in the rain last night, and nearly ran down a jaywalker dressed in dark clothing. Went into a bit of skid to avoid him, and luckily traffic was minimal or there might have been a few unpleasant accidents. Doesn’t matter whether you’re riding a bus, a train, biking, walking or driving: transportation can be dangerous and there’s no surefire way to stay 100% protected.
Personally, I don’t put property theft into the “personal safety” category. It sucks, can be expensive and inconvenient and you might even lose something that has emotional value–but it won’t put you in the hospital. In 18 years of multiple weekly bus rides, I’ve never actually witnessed an assault, and only one purse snatching.
“I’m with Ellen here; I think there’s a lot of fear-culture going around.”
Until you get your A$$ stomped, then it’s “how come no one is doing anything about it”
I have seen an Asian kid get jumped right after getting off the bus, and drugs getting sold, maybe about 2 robberies that began on the bus but happend off but I have seen much more walking down Rainier. Its funny one time I saw a bunch of teens making fun of the local smoker and I sat next to him and said whats up then looked at them and they got scared. I thought it was pretty funny that the people that many of us think will commit the crimes are just as scared of being victims.
I think it is more when you get off the bus as to on it. I almost got beat up so bad getting off the 7, like 15 people surrounded me and my friend because we wore the wrong color, but it was my street so I knew some of them and they just looked at me like wtf? and I said sorry I was just trying to match my shoes. They were okay with it. But if I didn’t know them that 300 pound dude with the tear drops was going to be a problem.
Here’s a question—and I’m not asking this to be smart; I honestly want to know: Do you feel safe driving your car through the Rainier Valley—or anywhere else in the city? (FYI, I live in the CD, not the Rainier Valley, but as a full-time bus rider, I’ve ridden the 7 my share of times. And no, it’s not on my list of favorite routes.)
I know that crime is real, and that to discount it is to disrespect its victims, but I do think we have a tendency to focus on certain risks, to the exclusion of others. You have a much higher risk of being injured (or losing money/property) in a car crash than you do of being the victim of a crime on a bus, but we spend a lot of energy focusing on perceived dangers of public transportation. We don’t think about the 40,000+ auto fatalities per year every time we get in our cars.
It’s true that certain routes are less pleasant and/or more rowdy than others, and that those routes make some people feel uneasy. (I don’t particularly want my children to hear foul language or some of the inappropriate conversations we’ve overheard on certain buses.) But if we’re talking about our physical safety, I’d put my trust in the bus (7 included) over a car any day.
Mark, did you actually get assaulted on the 7 (or the bus in general) or is this just conjecture? I wouldn’t say there’s absolutely no way the 7 (or other south/central buses — the 8, the 36, etc) could be made safer, just that I’ve felt safe.
Plus– and I could be misreading you here– but judging from your other comments, you seem to be unilaterally opposed to the city spending any money on any forms of public transportation whatsoever.
@graham
I’ve never been assaulted on the #7 but almost had to go rounds more than once though. Actually the only time I’ve been “mugged” I made money,(funny story, I’ll post it sometime), so I’m one up there.
I’m not against spending money for transportation as long as it benefits more than 1% of the population.
Mark B, it’s great to know you support public transit spending in all current forms–19.5% of Seattle residents use the bus to get to work. And 3% bike, nicely above your 1% threshold. http://daily.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2010/10/07/how-your-city-gets-to-work
I totally agree with that we shouldn’t support transportation for less than 1% of the population–no tax dollars for pogo sticks, flying carpets or jet packs.
How was that determined? I was joking when I said 1%, I thought anything less than 8-9% would be ridicuolous for what we are spending for a couple of bicyclists.
I bet I can do a poll that says less than 1% commute by bike just by selective calling.
Sorry, that’s “ridiculous”
Depends on where I’m getting on and off the bus. It also depends on the time of day. Riding the #7 from downtown to Columbia city isn’t so bad. Going further south, the bus route gets a little sketchy both on and off. I’ve seen fights break out as people get on and off the bus. I’ve seen drug deals occur at the #7 stop near my house. Kids hang out there and start fights frequently. I’ve had someone harass me after getting off the bus. I’ve had someone follow me home. We had some kid commit a robbery before someone caught him as he was about to get on the #7 down the street (imagine riding next to that guy). I’ve overheard conversations about shootings that occurred the night before (didn’t affect my immediate safety but certainly didn’t make me feel any better about where I was sitting).
To people who say that bus is safe, you’re either not paying attention or not riding that bus down far enough. I know bus rides can get interesting in and around the city; I’ve lived here for 10 years and frequented many a route as I’ve moved about. I’ve seen some sad, crazy, & comical things occur on our mass transit system but there’s no route as sketchy (or smelly) as the #7. Maybe I wouldn’t have such a problem with the #7 if the crime wasn’t so darn interactive.
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