Would you let your 11 year old ride the metro alone 4 stops?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After I have seen aggressive teens throw food at my 11-year old twins while I was WITH THEM on the metro: no way!

So kids shouldn't ride the metro because of the fear of food tossing teens?

[Anonymous]

I'm really surprised at the number of parents too scared to let their kids ride Metro by themselves?? I'm curious how many of the parents chiming in are actual riders themselves?

I've got no concerns about allowing my 10 year old to ride the bus or train by himself so long as he is confident in the route.

Stuff happens in life but public transportation around here is exceptionally safe - I'm far more worried about him being in the car with my wife who drives like a maniac.

[Anonymous]

Mine started with a friend at that age, going alone when the friend wasn't in school that day. We did lots of prep beforehand about street smarts, like riding in cars with lots of other people. I don't know those stops, though, and given recent crime stats (esp those involving teens), would be more wary of the red line in general.

[Anonymous]

I would do this if my kid were like me at that age (mine is still too young)... my main concern being that as a female, there can be a lot of harassment... but this could work, esp with that route.

[Anonymous]

No, not at age 11.

[Anonymous]

Mine rode the metro after school at 11. No incidents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After I have seen aggressive teens throw food at my 11-year old twins while I was WITH THEM on the metro: no way!

So kids shouldn't ride the metro because of the fear of food tossing teens?

Maybe the next time, it won't be food. Maybe it'll be a fist? Or a demand for cell phones?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This would be his commute home from school. Somewhere between 4 & 5 PM. I would pick him up from the metro.

At least, for now, he would be riding alone (not accompanied by a friend).

I grew up in NYC and was riding the subway alone way before this. DH is horrified at this idea.


Help me convince him

Absolutely.

Why are so many parents today such complete effing cowards with an extremely poor understanding of statistics and risk assessment? Yeah, this is directed at you PPs who said no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After I have seen aggressive teens throw food at my 11-year old twins while I was WITH THEM on the metro: no way!

So kids shouldn't ride the metro because of the fear of food tossing teens?

Maybe the next time, it won't be food. Maybe it'll be a fist? Or a demand for cell phones?

And the Bubble Dweller Award goes to...

[Anonymous]

Why not run the commute with him a few times at the beginning of the school year to gauge your comfort level?

I used to commute through Ft Totten at that time of day, and the bus station was always busy with kids commuting from school. It could get boisterous at times, but there was also a regular police presence to keep an eye on things. Caveat: this was more than ten years ago, so I don't know what it looks like today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most likely, depending on the stations and how much experience my child had with public transportation. Two of my three kids at that age, yes. My oldest, no, because that's the year we moved to DC from a much smaller Midwestern town and she wouldn't have been used to the Metro system yet.

+1

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised at the no responses as well. My son goes to a school in Rockville MD and a lot of kids, starting in middle school, take the metro home. They all walk to the metro or the ride on bus to the metro and then get on going various ways. I know several who started in 6th grade so they would have been 11.

I would definitely do it ---I would take him the first couple of times to show him how it's done and then go for it.

My DS takes the ride on bus instead because that's closer to my house.

[Anonymous]

No, just no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which stops - or general area - and which time?

Fort Totten to Forest Glen

Any chance your DS is going to be St Anselm's? If so, my understanding is that the school is good about emphasizing safety on public transportation, good behavior, sticking together etc. I talked to a number of parents whose kids ride it out to NOVA after school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, just no.

Why?

Also, are you a regular Metro rider?