Going alone fine, but I would pick him up when he got back to the metro in the evening.

I rode city buses in Denver when I was in 5th grade and regularly went downtown at night to a job when I was in my teens. Never had a cell phone, usually kept dimes, yes I am aging myself. It was one of the best things my parents ever did for me, I can figure out public transit anywhere I go. For me it is one of the reasons I am raising my kids in the city. My one thought though reading through the posts is that on weekends stations and some station entrances get closed and that could complicate things. I can't remember if op said that it would be a weekend.

Plus one other tip is to ride in the front car by the driver.

Our kids are in college and HS and started riding Metro alone when they were around 13. We live within a 10 min. walk of FH Metro. I would say 13 y.o. at 7 pm is probably fine on Metro, though I'd feel more comfortable if he were a bit older. After 7-ish, however, Metro really starts to empty out and I would not feel as comfortable. Actually, I might be more cautious about the walk from FH to your house. Last winter/spring there were a number of muggings in neighborhoods off of Wisconsin near FH and Tenley Metro stations at night, even during the early evening hours.

No matter what you decide, OP, I agree with other posters who suggested doing a dry run or 2 with your son. And, of course, spend some time reviewing safety tips. To the excellent tips suggested by 15:47, I would add: if you think you're being followed when walking home, go straight into the nearest store or restaurant, then call home for a ride.

Anonymous wrote:OP if you are still reading, what have you decided?

The question is sort of tabled because we're waiting for a few thing to happen (fall sport reaches end of the season, etc . . . ) before beginning the new activity. We'll ride it together at least once or twice before making a final decision.

I let my daughters (14 & 16) ride the metro, although not all of it, and generally not after 9 p.m. I'd like to see more input on city skills - I'll start.

Figure out who is behind you by looking sideways into glass shop windows.

Disturbances (somebody drops something, falls down, spills mustard) should be assumed to be cover for pickpockets until proven otherwise.

Do not use your phone if you are worried about people around you; do not use it while crossing a street.

If you are nervous, get your back against a wall so no one can come up behind you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:13:31 may not be politically correct, but she's not crazy.
I wouldn't let my teenager go alone through the Gallery Place metro area after 7 PM either, especially in the summer. She's right---just too much foolishness.

Yeah, I was a pp who mentioned caution about GP earlier. Good to be careful. But that pp's way of describing the "problem" is just too over-the-top.

You know what? White people are afraid to say what I have been saying for fear of sounding racist, and AA folks, well, I'm not sure. Maybe we think it, but are "embarressed" about talking about our own people in "mixed company", well I DON'T CARE. These young blacks are OUT OF CONTROL. If you look at them "wrong", they want to cuss you out, if you say "excuse me" because you want to get by them on the escalator because they are standing on the wrong dang side, you may just get beat down. I'm frustrated, I'm tired, I'm sad, because they just don't seem to care, and I'm ashamed of their ignorance, their rudeness, etc.

pp here. I hear ya and I'm not disputing that there are kids like that. It's just that I know some kids who when they're out on the metro at night look like the kids you've had a problem with but they don't behave like that at all. I just object to making sweeping statements suggesting that all black teens on the metro are trouble makers. And I say that because it's really easy to look at all kids on the metro and make those assumptions. I can feel myself doing that every day. And when I do I remind myself that until the kids I see are actually rude to me that I shouldn't assume they will be. That doesn't mean I'm not careful or that I don't pay close attention to teens in groups.

PP, don't you know some kids aren't troublemakers? Wouldn't it be better for them to make it clear that some black teens behave well and some behave badly? That's all I'm asking.

OP if you are still reading, what have you decided?

I think if I were going to do this, I'd do a test run first. Basically, shadow the kid (and tell him you are shadowing him). Let him figure it all out on his own. See how he does.