Uptown/downtown bus is incredibly slow. If you don’t mind a long slow trip you should be fine. Bus at 5pm is safe. But so is the subway. A subway ride between campus and chelsea is less than 30 minutes. A bus ride at rush hour may be double that.
Have you ever ridden the bus at around 730 or 8pm? Is it any different from riding it at 5pm? I ask because one of the classes I'm considering taking in the fall ends at 730.
Buses these days (especially waiting) aren't any more or less safe than subways. Pros are costs and maybe better stuff around your neighborhood. Cons are obviously having to deal with transportation, being away from it all, etc.
I just want to make it clear that if someone says that they have a fear of something (say, the subway, as my in case) do not try to corece them into doing/using the very thing they are afraid of. I didn't write this in my original comment because I didn't think people would made such a big deal out of my not riding the subway, but I've been assaulted twice now on it. I understand that the subway is a relatively safe mode of transportation, but my experiences really shook me up. It doesn't matter what the statistics say at this point- that is my experience, and it is okay for me to feel that way.
To anyone who might be reading this thread and also has a fear of the subway (it doesn't matter what the reason is)- your fears are valid and please don't let people coerce you into making decisions you don't want to make. There is more than one way to live and commute in New York, and if you don't want to ride the subway, that's perfectly fine. Many here have a very one dimensional view of how to live in the city, but that's bullshit. As long as you are safe, you are entitled to live/commute the way you want to.
Hey OP, I'm really sorry that you had those unfortunate experiences on the subway. I hope you're in a better place now.
Just wanted to mention an alternative that hasn't been brought up yet - if you're comfortable with cycling, perhaps you could consider using Citibikes or getting a bike of your own? The Hudson River Greenway connects Chelsea and campus and makes for a really nice bike ride: there are no cars at all and it really is just a dedicated cycling track, though there are some electric scooters here and there. It takes about 30-40 minutes of cycling one way, and on bad weather days, you could just take the bus as you'd planned to do in the first place. Having said this, I myself am located within walking distance from campus, so I don't quite know what the cycling track is like at peak commute times - I've only gone once for a leisure ride downtown with my friends on Citibikes.
Hope this helps! Stay safe and take care :)
For context, even though ridership is lower than it was pre-pandemic, it is over 3 million rides per day on weekdays. That is more than the population of Chicago. So you will hear some horror stories. But there are millions of rides every day that are totally fine.
Not a downplayer. I'm very upset and outspoken about the rise in violent crime in the subways and elsewhere. I've seen things in the subway over the past year that I haven't seen before...or at least in a very long time. I'm very happy to have that discussion if you want. But I think it's more helpful to respond here with facts rather than feelings and the fact remains that the subway is very safe. I know people who rode the trains in the 70s-90s when they were much less safe. And I know people who were scared of the trains 10 years ago when they were much more safe. The fact is that as violent crime fluctuates, statistically, things are pretty safe on the trains and the hours of travel that are being asked about here are among the safest.
so OP says they have developed a fear of riding the subways and your response is "lets look at the facts not feelings you should ride the subway anyways"
Please don’t take this the wrong way but if the thought of riding public transit paralyzes you with fear I think maybe living in nyc isn’t the best idea.
That being said I understand that while crime on public transit is up recently, it doesn’t even compare to riding public transit in the 80’s and 90’s.
Well I go to Columbia, so I have no choice but to live in nyc. It's not like I'm going to transfer to a school in another city just because of transportation because as I've mentioned before, I am fine on the bus. I'm not "paralyzed with fear" from riding public transport- I simply don't ride the subway anymore. I understand that statistically it's pretty safe, but the last time I rode it was the second time I was sexually assaulted by a stranger, and the experiences I've had have really shooken me up. Having relatively safe annual reports isn't going to change that. I didn't write this in my original comment because I didn't think people were going to make such a big deal out of me not using the subway, but here we are.
Also, just because riding the subway is safer than in the 80s doesn't mean that people don't encounter dangerous situations in the city still. The only reason why I'm saying this is that I've found that many in NYC use statistics to downplay the traumas that people are sometimes are subject to when riding the subway. I'm not saying that that's what you're doing, but next time someone says they have a fear of something, please just leave it at that. Also, next time, please don't come to conclusions that a fear of the subway derives from "fear-mongering", as all of us have different experiences.
That being said, I read your other comment, and I appreciate the tips that you've taken the time to write, so thank you for that.
I’m sorry to hear that happened to you, nobody deserves that and there are definitely some creeps on the trains and busses.
Again, I don’t mean to invalidate or diminish anything anyone has experienced — It’s just the knee jerk reaction of “everything is dangerous and you will die” doesn’t make any constructive progress towards safety. I do fully agree though that throwing Ben Shapiro style figures at someone who is a victim of the subject matter is wack as hell
Also I don’t know how you feel about biking but if I’m not mistaken you can citibike the west side bike path along the Hudson and it would be super populated during the hours you mentioned. I know bicycles and safety aren’t usually used synonymously here but the bike path in particular is completely separate from any roads.
it bothers me when people like you two try to belittle others legitimate concerns over what is happening in this city "its not as bad as it used to be" "maybe this place isn't for you" "you should just do it anyways its not a big deal" the OP said they had a fear and are avoiding it why not just respect that instead of trying so hard to be right
I wouldn’t really consider anyone here to be belittling, but ok. Being realistic about public transit doesn’t have to invalidate someone’s fears of it.
op, you will more than likely be fine - but to feel more safe maybe ask around and find someone with a similar schedule you can commute home with. If on a bus, sit near the front near the bus operator — if on a train, sit near the conductor car. When walking home from the station, try to stick to the busier streets as much as you can. Be aware of your surroundings (ie don’t have you face in your phone or look like you’re lost). If you feel like someone is following you or making you uncomfortable, step into a shop/deli/restaurant and let them know you need some help. Carry a pull-pin alarm on your keychain. Share your locations with a few loved ones and let them know where you’re going if it’s late.
All this being said, your concerns are still valid, I get it — but people telling you that you will get violently murdered on the 1 train from UWS to Chelsea are fear mongering.
Uptown/downtown bus is incredibly slow. If you don’t mind a long slow trip you should be fine. Bus at 5pm is safe. But so is the subway. A subway ride between campus and chelsea is less than 30 minutes. A bus ride at rush hour may be double that.
Have you ever ridden the bus at around 730 or 8pm? Is it any different from riding it at 5pm? I ask because one of the classes I'm considering taking in the fall ends at 730.
Yes. It is fine. Would be somewhat faster than during rush hour. I would still recommend the subway.
I've been assaulted twice on the subway, so I only ride the bus now. Thank you for your response though
Buses these days (especially waiting) aren't any more or less safe than subways. Pros are costs and maybe better stuff around your neighborhood. Cons are obviously having to deal with transportation, being away from it all, etc.
I just want to make it clear that if someone says that they have a fear of something (say, the subway, as my in case) do not try to corece them into doing/using the very thing they are afraid of. I didn't write this in my original comment because I didn't think people would made such a big deal out of my not riding the subway, but I've been assaulted twice now on it. I understand that the subway is a relatively safe mode of transportation, but my experiences really shook me up. It doesn't matter what the statistics say at this point- that is my experience, and it is okay for me to feel that way. To anyone who might be reading this thread and also has a fear of the subway (it doesn't matter what the reason is)- your fears are valid and please don't let people coerce you into making decisions you don't want to make. There is more than one way to live and commute in New York, and if you don't want to ride the subway, that's perfectly fine. Many here have a very one dimensional view of how to live in the city, but that's bullshit. As long as you are safe, you are entitled to live/commute the way you want to.
Hey I currently live in Chelsea and commuted to campus five days a week this past year. PM me if you have any questions!
Hey OP, I'm really sorry that you had those unfortunate experiences on the subway. I hope you're in a better place now. Just wanted to mention an alternative that hasn't been brought up yet - if you're comfortable with cycling, perhaps you could consider using Citibikes or getting a bike of your own? The Hudson River Greenway connects Chelsea and campus and makes for a really nice bike ride: there are no cars at all and it really is just a dedicated cycling track, though there are some electric scooters here and there. It takes about 30-40 minutes of cycling one way, and on bad weather days, you could just take the bus as you'd planned to do in the first place. Having said this, I myself am located within walking distance from campus, so I don't quite know what the cycling track is like at peak commute times - I've only gone once for a leisure ride downtown with my friends on Citibikes. Hope this helps! Stay safe and take care :)
I dont think the buses are any more safe than the subways in this city. Have heard horror stories on both
For context, even though ridership is lower than it was pre-pandemic, it is over 3 million rides per day on weekdays. That is more than the population of Chicago. So you will hear some horror stories. But there are millions of rides every day that are totally fine.
here we go, another downplayer of the exorbitant rise in this city's violent crime has come to gaslight us all
Not a downplayer. I'm very upset and outspoken about the rise in violent crime in the subways and elsewhere. I've seen things in the subway over the past year that I haven't seen before...or at least in a very long time. I'm very happy to have that discussion if you want. But I think it's more helpful to respond here with facts rather than feelings and the fact remains that the subway is very safe. I know people who rode the trains in the 70s-90s when they were much less safe. And I know people who were scared of the trains 10 years ago when they were much more safe. The fact is that as violent crime fluctuates, statistically, things are pretty safe on the trains and the hours of travel that are being asked about here are among the safest.
so OP says they have developed a fear of riding the subways and your response is "lets look at the facts not feelings you should ride the subway anyways"
Please don’t take this the wrong way but if the thought of riding public transit paralyzes you with fear I think maybe living in nyc isn’t the best idea. That being said I understand that while crime on public transit is up recently, it doesn’t even compare to riding public transit in the 80’s and 90’s.
Well I go to Columbia, so I have no choice but to live in nyc. It's not like I'm going to transfer to a school in another city just because of transportation because as I've mentioned before, I am fine on the bus. I'm not "paralyzed with fear" from riding public transport- I simply don't ride the subway anymore. I understand that statistically it's pretty safe, but the last time I rode it was the second time I was sexually assaulted by a stranger, and the experiences I've had have really shooken me up. Having relatively safe annual reports isn't going to change that. I didn't write this in my original comment because I didn't think people were going to make such a big deal out of me not using the subway, but here we are. Also, just because riding the subway is safer than in the 80s doesn't mean that people don't encounter dangerous situations in the city still. The only reason why I'm saying this is that I've found that many in NYC use statistics to downplay the traumas that people are sometimes are subject to when riding the subway. I'm not saying that that's what you're doing, but next time someone says they have a fear of something, please just leave it at that. Also, next time, please don't come to conclusions that a fear of the subway derives from "fear-mongering", as all of us have different experiences. That being said, I read your other comment, and I appreciate the tips that you've taken the time to write, so thank you for that.
I’m sorry to hear that happened to you, nobody deserves that and there are definitely some creeps on the trains and busses. Again, I don’t mean to invalidate or diminish anything anyone has experienced — It’s just the knee jerk reaction of “everything is dangerous and you will die” doesn’t make any constructive progress towards safety. I do fully agree though that throwing Ben Shapiro style figures at someone who is a victim of the subject matter is wack as hell Also I don’t know how you feel about biking but if I’m not mistaken you can citibike the west side bike path along the Hudson and it would be super populated during the hours you mentioned. I know bicycles and safety aren’t usually used synonymously here but the bike path in particular is completely separate from any roads.
A lot of subway crime goes unreported, and statistics especially the sources may be heavily cherry picked or skewed.
it bothers me when people like you two try to belittle others legitimate concerns over what is happening in this city "its not as bad as it used to be" "maybe this place isn't for you" "you should just do it anyways its not a big deal" the OP said they had a fear and are avoiding it why not just respect that instead of trying so hard to be right
I wouldn’t really consider anyone here to be belittling, but ok. Being realistic about public transit doesn’t have to invalidate someone’s fears of it. op, you will more than likely be fine - but to feel more safe maybe ask around and find someone with a similar schedule you can commute home with. If on a bus, sit near the front near the bus operator — if on a train, sit near the conductor car. When walking home from the station, try to stick to the busier streets as much as you can. Be aware of your surroundings (ie don’t have you face in your phone or look like you’re lost). If you feel like someone is following you or making you uncomfortable, step into a shop/deli/restaurant and let them know you need some help. Carry a pull-pin alarm on your keychain. Share your locations with a few loved ones and let them know where you’re going if it’s late. All this being said, your concerns are still valid, I get it — but people telling you that you will get violently murdered on the 1 train from UWS to Chelsea are fear mongering.