As a child growing up in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York - my family used public transportation - busses, trolleys, and even the subway - all of which were safe. Years passed - the trolleys tracks were removed leaving more people to traveling by bus, subway, or car.
By High School my family moved to Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn where I took the bus to High School then the subway to New York University often traveling around Manhattan and always feeling safe. As a person who loves trains, and has traveled the rails around the US, Canada, and Europe, I consider them an adventure.
Present Day - January 28, 2020
Many people have no problem traveling by subway today. It's generally a quick and easy way to get around the city if going a short distance - yet crimes happen none form or another especially as people carry their tech with them. Security on New York City subways has been stepped up through the years but as a woman I don't travel by subway any more mostly because of the people who ride the rails in NYC.
The last time I took the subway was in 1983. It was a peasant summer afternoon and all seemed well in the world as the D train pulled into the 34th St. station and people got off. I was going to 42nd Street. As I looked out at the platform I saw people walking up the stairs towards the street. The last person was a man who suddenly stopped ... turned ... looked at me and exposed himself as the train doors closed. That was it for me - I was done with subways forever.
Then there's the germs, litter, delays, and crime. By the way - a man exposing himself is not really about sex but about the control he feels seeing women react. Crazy world we live in.
Now let's move to my local station - 95th St. on the R train - where the following happened yesterday. Man tried to rape 31 year old woman in Brooklyn subway bathroom.