Union Station at 10 PM on a Wednesday?

[Anonymous]

You don't have to be a helicopter parent to offer helpful, local advice like not entering any restrooms at Union Station or engaging in any discussions with random people (they are all mentally ill).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are homeless drug addled people in NYC too - why is Union Station your biggest fear?

+1 - the folks around Penn Station in NY were way more concerning than anyone in Union Station - this was over July 4th. And yet, I, a woman alone, on foot, not armed, managed to survive.

Are you “street smart?” Did you grow up in a city?

- because OP described her son as naive, kind of clueless, and unaware of his surroundings.

That is the source of her concern, people.

Maybe he will learn his lessons the hard way. Is that what you all want?

I did not grow up in a city. Far from it. Am I street smart? I suppose I am now, but the bolded above are all things people can work on pretty easily. It's not hard to remind yourself to be aware of your surroundings. There are self-defense/situational awareness course. The son could take one of those. Heck, watch the Jason Bourne movies. You can pick up a lot of good tips on observation, noticing things out of place, etc.

Any woman responding on this thread could easily tell you how she would have behaved/navigated this situation at age 20 because it's the same type of situation we've navigated our entire lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are homeless drug addled people in NYC too - why is Union Station your biggest fear?

+1 - the folks around Penn Station in NY were way more concerning than anyone in Union Station - this was over July 4th. And yet, I, a woman alone, on foot, not armed, managed to survive.

Are you “street smart?” Did you grow up in a city?

- because OP described her son as naive, kind of clueless, and unaware of his surroundings.

That is the source of her concern, people.

Maybe he will learn his lessons the hard way. Is that what you all want?

I did not grow up in a city. Far from it. Am I street smart? I suppose I am now, but the bolded above are all things people can work on pretty easily. It's not hard to remind yourself to be aware of your surroundings. There are self-defense/situational awareness course. The son could take one of those. Heck, watch the Jason Bourne movies. You can pick up a lot of good tips on observation, noticing things out of place, etc.

Any woman responding on this thread could easily tell you how she would have behaved/navigated this situation at age 20 because it's the same type of situation we've navigated our entire lives.

- and OP’s naive son will probably wander out of Union station, absent-mindedly staring down into a new book or his expensive IPhone, instead of being aware of his surroundings.

Hope all they take is his phone and backpack (and not his life).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm pregnant and arriving at Union Station at nearly midnight on Wednesday. I will jump in an Uber and head home. I genuinely don't understand what the concern is. Does he not know how to use Uber?

Uber? Rando drivers and rando cars?

Do you ever fly? Rando pilots and rando planes? OMG!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He gets off the Acela at New Carrollton, and goes over to the Orange line. Then depending on the time he switches to the Silver at East Falls Church and goes to Reston, or someone comes and gets him at Vienna. Metro is now staying open until midnight.

How on earth do you people survive in the real world.

OP again. I also love the idea of him getting off at BWI. One of us could easily grab him there as well. SO much easier then a late night into the city

You are insane. Seek treatment for your rampant, unchecked anxiety and control issues.

“How did this happen? I didn’t see this coming!” - says every leftist everywhere

What? Wrong thread, maybe?

No, right thread.

Your comment makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think OP has valid concerns.

I'm a well-traveled adult who takes the train to NYC for work several times a month, and even I don't like Union Station late at night. Do my 19 and 21 year olds take it late at night? Yes, but the first time each one did a late night trip, I went with them first to guide them on some important things.

At night it becomes a hub for the homeless, many with mental issues. When I arrived at around 9:30 PM two weeks ago, a homeless man and woman were having sex outside of the metro entrance. The transit officers were just laughing at them.

I mean, as it is, it's getting harder to find a restroom inside that's not occupied by a homeless person. If you are truly handicap and in need of that stall, you're SOL. I've yet to see a restroom there that didn't have a homeless person living in that stall.

And that impacted your sons how? They have almost certainly had sex already, mom. Such pearl-clutching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have been in the “land the helicopter” crowd a few years ago, but we moved away from DC and I am back visiting. We’re staying on Capitol Hill and are shocked by the aggressive homeless people in and around Union Station, as well as how many shops are closed, etc. If you haven’t been there lately, it’s not the place it was pre-pandemic. I think the metro would be fine, if it’s running that late, but I wouldn’t want my naive kid standing around waiting for an Uber at that time of night.

Exactly my point (OP here). It is NOT the place it was pre-pandemic. I loved Union Station then. The aggressive homeless are out of control. Going there at 10 AM to take a train to NYC, not really concerned. Coming home when the train itself could be late, then has to try and find my husband? I'm just not comfortable with that. He's shy and quiet and would be the perfect victim frankly. At least with a bus, he's coming home into a quiet suburb where he can be picked up directly at the stop.

People can tell me to cut the cord all they want. Don't care. He went off for a month on a student exchange to Europe at 16 and I was only mildly concerned as I knew where he was going was safe and he wasn't traveling alone. I know he's excited to take the train, but he really doesn't understand the station and the area at late at night is different then during the day. There's a time and place and this is neither.

For someone who described themselves as "simple country folk", you sure know a lot about Union Station pre- and post-pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are homeless drug addled people in NYC too - why is Union Station your biggest fear?

+1 - the folks around Penn Station in NY were way more concerning than anyone in Union Station - this was over July 4th. And yet, I, a woman alone, on foot, not armed, managed to survive.

Are you “street smart?” Did you grow up in a city?

- because OP described her son as naive, kind of clueless, and unaware of his surroundings.

That is the source of her concern, people.

Maybe he will learn his lessons the hard way. Is that what you all want?

I did not grow up in a city. Far from it. Am I street smart? I suppose I am now, but the bolded above are all things people can work on pretty easily. It's not hard to remind yourself to be aware of your surroundings. There are self-defense/situational awareness course. The son could take one of those. Heck, watch the Jason Bourne movies. You can pick up a lot of good tips on observation, noticing things out of place, etc.

Any woman responding on this thread could easily tell you how she would have behaved/navigated this situation at age 20 because it's the same type of situation we've navigated our entire lives.

THIS! Well, not any woman, but any woman who has lived in a city on her own for any length of time...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have been in the “land the helicopter” crowd a few years ago, but we moved away from DC and I am back visiting. We’re staying on Capitol Hill and are shocked by the aggressive homeless people in and around Union Station, as well as how many shops are closed, etc. If you haven’t been there lately, it’s not the place it was pre-pandemic. I think the metro would be fine, if it’s running that late, but I wouldn’t want my naive kid standing around waiting for an Uber at that time of night.

Exactly my point (OP here). It is NOT the place it was pre-pandemic. I loved Union Station then. The aggressive homeless are out of control. Going there at 10 AM to take a train to NYC, not really concerned. Coming home when the train itself could be late, then has to try and find my husband? I'm just not comfortable with that. He's shy and quiet and would be the perfect victim frankly. At least with a bus, he's coming home into a quiet suburb where he can be picked up directly at the stop.

People can tell me to cut the cord all they want. Don't care. He went off for a month on a student exchange to Europe at 16 and I was only mildly concerned as I knew where he was going was safe and he wasn't traveling alone. I know he's excited to take the train, but he really doesn't understand the station and the area at late at night is different then during the day. There's a time and place and this is neither.

For someone who described themselves as "simple country folk", you sure know a lot about Union Station pre- and post-pandemic.

OP, I hear you, but it seems interesting that you don't seem concerned with him navigating NYC but are instead focusing on the Union Station aspect only. Does he understand NYC transportation already?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think OP has valid concerns.

I'm a well-traveled adult who takes the train to NYC for work several times a month, and even I don't like Union Station late at night. Do my 19 and 21 year olds take it late at night? Yes, but the first time each one did a late night trip, I went with them first to guide them on some important things.

At night it becomes a hub for the homeless, many with mental issues. When I arrived at around 9:30 PM two weeks ago, a homeless man and woman were having sex outside of the metro entrance. The transit officers were just laughing at them.

I mean, as it is, it's getting harder to find a restroom inside that's not occupied by a homeless person. If you are truly handicap and in need of that stall, you're SOL. I've yet to see a restroom there that didn't have a homeless person living in that stall.

And that impacted your sons how? They have almost certainly had sex already, mom. Such pearl-clutching.

I was travelling alone. I didn't say it impacted me at all.

The way OP described herself and son is that they are country people and therefore not street smart.

My 19 yo who hardly takes the metro gets lost every single time. My nieces from London had zero issues navigating around DC in 2019 by their selves because they are used to mass transit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your son is 20? Land the helicopter- it’s fine. He can take metro or Uber - either will be ok.

Metro will not be running that time of night. Last train is 10:17 pm and he gets in at about 10:15 PM. I suggested Uber as well.

Metro will still be running. PP is wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't have to be a helicopter parent to offer helpful, local advice like not entering any restrooms at Union Station or engaging in any discussions with random people (they are all mentally ill).

Make sure he uses the restroom on the train before he gets off the train.

[Anonymous]

DC deterioration or not, the most dangerous part of the day still probably the time spent in the car. When the Amtrak trains pull in to union station, there typically are a lot of people going straight to metro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think OP has valid concerns.

I'm a well-traveled adult who takes the train to NYC for work several times a month, and even I don't like Union Station late at night. Do my 19 and 21 year olds take it late at night? Yes, but the first time each one did a late night trip, I went with them first to guide them on some important things.

At night it becomes a hub for the homeless, many with mental issues. When I arrived at around 9:30 PM two weeks ago, a homeless man and woman were having sex outside of the metro entrance. The transit officers were just laughing at them.

I mean, as it is, it's getting harder to find a restroom inside that's not occupied by a homeless person. If you are truly handicap and in need of that stall, you're SOL. I've yet to see a restroom there that didn't have a homeless person living in that stall.

And that impacted your sons how? They have almost certainly had sex already, mom. Such pearl-clutching.

I was travelling alone. I didn't say it impacted me at all.

The way OP described herself and son is that they are country people and therefore not street smart.

My 19 yo who hardly takes the metro gets lost every single time. My nieces from London had zero issues navigating around DC in 2019 by their selves because they are used to mass transit.

NP but I still don’t understand why the things you are listing are a big deal. Your niece gets lost on the metro? Okay lots of people do, and I assume she figured out things at some point or she’d still be lost. Homeless people having sex in Union Station? Awkward and not the most pleasant thing but I’ve seen worse at Mardi Gras.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm pregnant and arriving at Union Station at nearly midnight on Wednesday. I will jump in an Uber and head home. I genuinely don't understand what the concern is. Does he not know how to use Uber?

Uber? Rando drivers and rando cars?

Do you ever fly? Rando pilots and rando planes? OMG!

If you don’t know the fundamental differences between being an uber driver and a qualified commercial airline pilot, then you might need to pause, think about it, and try harder.