late night subway (Ridge: home, living in, safe)

[xfuzzy]

Is it safe to take the subway alone during late night hours as a 20-something female? Particularly within Manhattan, and from Manhattan to Brooklyn (Williamsburg, Park Slope, Bay Ridge). Do weeknights or weekend nights make a difference? My instinct would be that this should probably be avoided, however I've seen a lot of women traveling alone at these hours and everything seems to be fine. I was just wondering about this, as I'm considering moving to Brooklyn in the future and will undoubtedly have situations where I'll be returning home after midnight. Any thoughts?

[Henna]

I think midnight is quite a different story than 3am. I personally think midnight feels quite safe, 1am quite safe, but 2-3am start feeling like it's more iffy. Those are just my personal feelings. You probably need to test it for yourself. If there's a time of night when you start to feel uncomfortable, that's when you take a cab. Also a big factor is how far you have to walk from the subway stop to home once you get out.

Another thing to consider is that a journey that starts at 1am in Manhattan might be over at 1:30 if you live in Wiliamsburg, but might take til 2:30 if you are going somewhere much deeper south in Brooklyn.

[Chava61]

I think that until approx. midnight in most areas is usually okay to travel by subway. But again one has to use their own commonsense/judgment on a case by case basis.

[bluedog2]

As others have said,midnight or 1 am is much better then 2 or 3 but I'd rather be on the subway at 3 am than on the streets in many areas.It might not be the subway ride but the walk afterwards that will get you.
I'd put more analysis into the walk(where I'd be living in relation to the subway stop) if I knew I'd be coming home in the middle of the night with any frequency.
Always ride on the first car very late at night.

[Chava61]

Originally Posted by bluedog2

Always ride on the first car very late at night.

I suggest riding always in the car where the conductor is late at night.

[arabella22]

If you are the ONE statistic that gets mugged or worse...

That being said...speaking from experience when I was young and had my ny nightlife and getting home on the train between midnight and 4am...I'd say no matter what borough or even in Manhattan...

These are some things all single women should think about...

~ Don't drink or at least don't be too out of it...you need to be alert! Wait to sober up a bit before going home if you have to go by yourself.

~ Do know some self defense including tactics and techniques which require no muscle, rather, being calm and using your brain to defeat the "brawn" of any possible attacker.

~ Do carry pepper spray and keep it in your hand in your pocket.

~ Do carry your keys in your other hand in your having them pointed out between your fingers as you hold the ring in your fist as a quick jabbing weapon should you need it. (Here I will admit to even having a little knife or leather wrist bands with some wicked spikes).

~ Do not make eye contact with anyone but if they look at you too much and you get uncomfortable like they might be planning something DO get off and change cars at the next station.(I second the idea of the other post to make sure you are in the same car as the conductor, but that does not guarantee your safety just makes the odds more in your favor)

~ Finally, if you REALLY have to come home late at night unless it's a 3 times a week habit...splurge for a cab sister!

[jacktravern]

Chances are you would be ok but u can never be certain in the subway. But to be honest its not something I would want my wife or mother doing. Say what you want about owning a car, but that subway ride can be trick or treat.

[LadyR1990]

my rule of thumb is before midnight take the subway. But I live only 3 blocks from my stop and its a well traveled 3 blocks. it also depends what line. If i see many people walking down i usually take it.

[Fred314X]

Originally Posted by Chava61

I suggest riding always in the car where the conductor is late at night.

That is exactly what you should do. (Words of advice from a former conductor!)

And that will be in the middle of the train.

[convertible1968]

these are more reasons why I do not live in NYC anymore. I feel sorry for all of you. What a way to live!