I think you need to test this yourself at the exact location and times you need - not easy, I know.

I let my dd ride farther than that at that age, but we live in San Francisco. I'm not sure if the metro is less safe. A lot of her friends also rode the train to and from school (no school buses) and to weekend activities. By middle school, most are riding, whether alone or with friends (if friends are going the same way).

For the people who would not let your child ride the Metro -- would you let your child ride the bus?

Which stops - or general area - and which time?

It depends ...... what stops
.... is there something your child is doing immediately after school so he is not in the rush of other children
...... is there another school that is a High School that is getting on at the metro stop? [lot's of chaos that you do not want him in the middle of]

I assume you have a child who is at BASIS DC since this is an 11 YO and a new discussion. There are a lot of BASIS DC kids who are taking metro

If you are able to meet the train just four stops from the school, why can't you just ride those four stops and meet the kid at school?

If you are able to meet the train just four stops from the school, why can't you just ride those four stops and meet the kid at school?

No way. That's a busy time on the metro. And what about disable trains, off loading, etc? IMO metro is too unreliable, plus there are a lot of crazies out there.

Depends on what stations. Possibly.

No, not at that time. Too much nonsense after school.

--Columbia Heights parent of a tween and a teen

I rode the subway when I was that age but not alone, always with a friend or sibling. So....no.

No. Especially not at the time school dismisses.

Here's the deal. I'm AA and I grew up really poor in W. Baltimore. The subway there is a joke and not really useful or reliable, but safe. When I first moved here, I rode the Metro everywhere any time of day without fear. About six years ago. I started to see large groups of (unfortunately) AA youth who seemed determined to scare other passengers of all races, social classes, and ages. I've witnessed truly terrifying incidents and don't take my child or elderly mom on Metro at all. I don't ride the Metro when school gets out anymore.

No no no

No way.

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