age for taking Metro alone

[Anonymous]

we live 3 blocks and 3 metro stops from my daughter's school. Would you be ok with her taking the metro home alone? She doesn't have a buddy who lives nearby. She is 12 years old...

[Anonymous]

Yes, but I would ride with her the first few times to make sure she knows the route well and can handle issues like money running out on the card, etc. I started encouraging DD to take solo metro trips when she was 10. At 12, she has taken many direct trips but is not quite comfortable doing transfers at busy downtown stations on her own (fine with a buddy).

[Anonymous]

Definitely old enough and good for her!

[Anonymous]

I'd be fine with it. Does she have a cellphone? (So you can get in touch with her and visa versa. She should not be using it while on the metro due to safety reasons).

[Anonymous]

I would suggest that she call you once off the metro, but before she leaves the station to tell you she is walking home. AND definitely no distraction by being on the cell phone while walking etc. or ipod etc. Then maybe text when she gets home. Or maybe just call when she gets home.

I would also instruct her to always just carry say an extra $5 in her backpack should the car run out so she can just cover a metro ride.

I hate to say it, but I have taken the red line out towards Silver Springs and late afternoon you can get some really wiseass high school students getting on just aiming to be loud and raucous. So it is important to teach her to judge when to get on a train or a particular car or not.

[Anonymous]

Yes. My DD started in 4th grade, when she was 10. She has to call when she gets to school. It's fine.

[Anonymous]

Yes. With a cell phone.

[Anonymous]

Yes, with a cell. And do teach her some street safety (don't talk to strangers, never go off your route). You'd be surprised at how little my kids knew when they started self transporting to school.

[Anonymous]

12 is old enough. Make sure she knows not to get distracted. If with a cellphone or tablet teach her to keep it concealed and always be aware of her surroundings. (I saw a video of a guy on a train who snatched and ran out just before the doors closed so he couldn't be chased.)

[Anonymous]

My kid started with a very similar trip to camp when he was 11 the summer before 6th grade. At that age he only traveled in daylight, on routes we had practiced together. Gradually over the years we've added more complexity and he can go all sorts of places now as a teenager.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I would suggest that she call you once off the metro, but before she leaves the station to tell you she is walking home. AND definitely no distraction by being on the cell phone while walking etc. or ipod etc. Then maybe text when she gets home. Or maybe just call when she gets home.

I would also instruct her to always just carry say an extra $5 in her backpack should the car run out so she can just cover a metro ride.

I hate to say it, but I have taken the red line out towards Silver Springs and late afternoon you can get some really wiseass high school students getting on just aiming to be loud and raucous. So it is important to teach her to judge when to get on a train or a particular car or not.

No, that's a good way to get mugged. Don't take your cell phone out in public. At the very least, she should go into a store to use it.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the support! She has a flip phone circa 2002...so not much a magnet for thieves She is going to try it out this week, and I will be sure to discuss street safety with her.

[Anonymous]

NO. 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Get her a fare card with auto reload. Then she never has to worry about fare.

[Anonymous]

Yes!