I took the DC subway at 12. It wasn't a big deal. I say go for it.

Anonymous wrote:The funny thing is that the same people saying "yes" to this are also the people who would never consider leaving a 16 year old home alone overnight in their own house.

How do you know this?

For two stops on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in the morning? Yes, of course I would. She'll be riding with the Mayor and lawyers at that time!

Absolutely out of the question. No way, not gonna happen.

Anonymous wrote:The funny thing is that the same people saying "yes" to this are also the people who would never consider leaving a 16 year old home alone overnight in their own house.

Perhaps for very, very different reasons...

The funny thing is that the same people saying "yes" to this are also the people who would never consider leaving a 16 year old home alone overnight in their own house.

No.

Yes, of course. How is this even a question?

Anonymous wrote:Yes. I have a 14 yr old and live in San Francisco (am from NY). She was taking the subways here alone at 11. NYC is safer than SF.

+1 Totally fine I'm from NYC and I've seen even younger kids around 10 yo taking subway and buses. People don't get this inless you have actually lived in the city. Its much safer compared to DC, SF etc.

Yes ugh we are far too protective around here

For me, age 14 or so (around the beginning of high school) would be the right time. I lived in NYC for about five years in my twenties and was exposed to twice, during daytime hours, and I still remember how shocked and uncomfortable and scared that made me feel as a woman traveling alone. No harm came to me but it was just disturbing. I've also had experiences with being approached by unstable people, forced to wait in a dark train during a power outage, etc.

That being said, I know a lot of parents in NYC who do start independent subway riding around age 12, even 11, especially if it's a pair or group of kids riding together. It would be a perfectly understandable choice for you to say yes, but you need to walk through how she would handle such experiences, who she could turn to for help if needed, how she needs to keep alert and not space out on her phone with headphones on, oblivious to her surroundings, etc.

Totally fine. Make sure she has a phone. Use the iPhone tracking for your own peace of mind to know your kid has reached school.

Absolutely a 12 year old is old enough to do this if she feels comfortable. And if she doesn't, you should help her get there by doing the trip with her as a "silent partner" so she has to make all the decisions.

Peoples' irrational fears of pedophile kidnappers, subway "pushers," etc. are just that: irrational. Yes those things have happened before in the history of humanity, but they are very rare. Riding in a car is almost certainly more dangerous.