Union Station at 10 PM on a Wednesday?

[Anonymous]

I did this when I was THIRTEEN years old!!! My god!

[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?

So why isn’t she planning this with her adult son instead of for him? Either he doesn’t want to listen to her overreacting to him doing something normal, or she isn’t interested in teaching because she wants to control the situation to try to alleviate her anxiety. If she were trying to teach him how to handle the metro at night, she probably would’ve done that before he became an adult.

Because idiots like yourself don't believe there is any danger anywhere, at any time. Common sense dictates that coming into a train station known to be laden with homeless/mentally ill late at night (since trains are often delayed, OP's son will probably be closer to 10:30 or 11:00 PM) alone might not be a wise thing to do. Add to this, police officers who don't do their job and a mayor who has no desire to handle rising crime rates in the city and you have what can be a bad situation for a kid that's not well-traveled. I guess OP's husband can go pick him up, but given said crime rates late at night in DC (y'all are waxing poetic about carjackings in other threads), that might not be so wise either.

You have no idea if OP's kid has used metro at night, during the day, or at any time, or whether or not the metro will even be running if the train is delayed. Uber or a cab is a costly option, but definitely an option. OP's kid should take the train to NYC during the day, and make the return trip by BestBus or Vamoose Bus back, or fly home.

[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.

Firstly, it's disgusting. Secondly, the police were not policing, which is why it was happening in the first place. Third, it indicates a level of debauchery that should not be occurring in a civilized area.

[Anonymous]

My husband did this about 2 weeks ago. Train from nyc, arrived after 10 or 10:30. Meant to take the metro but realized he missed the last train. Went back out for Uber to our house in va.

He didn’t mention anything weird or alarming. He seemed most irritated that metro closes early now. So have your son check the schedule.

[Anonymous]

This is wayyyyyyyyyyyy too much hullabaloo to go to a fricken bookstore and eat at what’s most likely a chain restaurant. Good god.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

So why isn’t she planning this with her adult son instead of for him? Either he doesn’t want to listen to her overreacting to him doing something normal, or she isn’t interested in teaching because she wants to control the situation to try to alleviate her anxiety. If she were trying to teach him how to handle the metro at night, she probably would’ve done that before he became an adult.

Because idiots like yourself don't believe there is any danger anywhere, at any time. Common sense dictates that coming into a train station known to be laden with homeless/mentally ill late at night (since trains are often delayed, OP's son will probably be closer to 10:30 or 11:00 PM) alone might not be a wise thing to do. Add to this, police officers who don't do their job and a mayor who has no desire to handle rising crime rates in the city and you have what can be a bad situation for a kid that's not well-traveled. I guess OP's husband can go pick him up, but given said crime rates late at night in DC (y'all are waxing poetic about carjackings in other threads), that might not be so wise either.

You have no idea if OP's kid has used metro at night, during the day, or at any time, or whether or not the metro will even be running if the train is delayed. Uber or a cab is a costly option, but definitely an option. OP's kid should take the train to NYC during the day, and make the return trip by BestBus or Vamoose Bus back, or fly home.

Holy aggressive, over the top response. You’re saying that because I’m capable of getting myself safely from point A to point B, I think there’s no danger anywhere, thus OP should micromanage her adult son’s day trip transportation rather than enabling him to plan it himself. Wow. That’s some kind of logic you have there.

[Anonymous]

It's after 10pm on a Wednesday. Did he make it back OK? How many homeless people accosted him?

[Anonymous]

My 18 year old DD spent last weekend in NYC with a friend. They came back Sat. night at 130am to Union Station due to train being late. I had to pick her up due to the lateness. there was a large crowd there waiting for arrivals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We are simple country folk, albeit with a lot of money. Used to private everything. So yes, this will be a maiden voyage for him and yes, I'm a bit nervous. Out of my wheelhouse

Ah, the humblebrag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

So why isn’t she planning this with her adult son instead of for him? Either he doesn’t want to listen to her overreacting to him doing something normal, or she isn’t interested in teaching because she wants to control the situation to try to alleviate her anxiety. If she were trying to teach him how to handle the metro at night, she probably would’ve done that before he became an adult.

Because idiots like yourself don't believe there is any danger anywhere, at any time. Common sense dictates that coming into a train station known to be laden with homeless/mentally ill late at night (since trains are often delayed, OP's son will probably be closer to 10:30 or 11:00 PM) alone might not be a wise thing to do. Add to this, police officers who don't do their job and a mayor who has no desire to handle rising crime rates in the city and you have what can be a bad situation for a kid that's not well-traveled. I guess OP's husband can go pick him up, but given said crime rates late at night in DC (y'all are waxing poetic about carjackings in other threads), that might not be so wise either.

You have no idea if OP's kid has used metro at night, during the day, or at any time, or whether or not the metro will even be running if the train is delayed. Uber or a cab is a costly option, but definitely an option. OP's kid should take the train to NYC during the day, and make the return trip by BestBus or Vamoose Bus back, or fly home.

Holy aggressive, over the top response. You’re saying that because I’m capable of getting myself safely from point A to point B, I think there’s no danger anywhere, thus OP should micromanage her adult son’s day trip transportation rather than enabling him to plan it himself. Wow. That’s some kind of logic you have there.

I think the PP is making a general response to the idiots on this thread. There’s a whole lot of judging and superiority, including your post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 18 year old DD spent last weekend in NYC with a friend. They came back Sat. night at 130am to Union Station due to train being late. I had to pick her up due to the lateness. there was a large crowd there waiting for arrivals.

Good to know!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's after 10pm on a Wednesday. Did he make it back OK? How many homeless people accosted him?

Update Op!

[Anonymous]

Update from pregnant PP who got into Union Station last night around 11:30. I felt perfectly safe, as expected, and jumped in a cab immediately with no issues. I have done this many times. I am not sure why some of you like to pretend Union Station is like a war zone when a train happens to get in late. When you get off an Amtrak, there are always a lot of other people getting off so it's never deserted.

[Anonymous]

If this is a troll post, it’s a classic.
If it’s for real, we need an update, OP! Did he go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If this is a troll post, it’s a classic.
If it’s for real, we need an update, OP! Did he go?

He was devoured whole by feral homeless, leaving behind only a complimentary Shakespeare & Co bookmark. Please respect OP's privacy at this difficult time.