Comments on: Riding the subways alone, but at what age?

By: Children, alone, on the subways :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:20:37 +0000

[...] few weeks after the story first broke, I defended Skenazy. I grew up in New York City when the subways weren’t as safe as they are now, and I first [...]

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:40:01 +0000

When I was in 7th grade, I took the bus to and from school, all by myself. That was in Tel Aviv at the beginning of the Second Intifada, and the bus in question is the country’s busiest and most frequently bombed line.

By: Cap'n Transit

Cap'n Transit — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:41:04 +0000

How did Skenazy get home?

By: Eric the BeehiveHairdresser

Eric the BeehiveHairdresser — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:41:54 +0000

One of the things I remember learning at a young age about the subway was that there’s no need to look for the train if you’re at an indoor station because you’ll feel the train coming before you can see it.

By: Kids Alone on the Subway » trainjotting.com

Kids Alone on the Subway » trainjotting.com — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:50:48 +0000

[...] SecondAvenueSagas picks up on the debate about at what age a child should be allowed to ride the subway by himself. SecondAve estimates he was 12 when he undertook this Gotham rite of passage. [...]

By: Shelly

Shelly — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:42:50 +0000

I was born in the 1950s. My mother didn’t let me ride a bus(!) by myself until I was 12 or so. And even then, she preferred I be with friends. I wasn’t allowed to ride the subway alone (to go to the beach and shopping) until I was 13 or 14 and then, only with friends. I don’t think I actually rode the subway alone til I graduated high school. It wasn’t the safest place to be, and in the ’60s, my mother told me I could take the subway with friends into Manhattan from Queens, but only if we took the bus to the subway line that didn’t go through the bad neighborhoods.

IMO, it’s not whether or not the subway is safe, because nothing really is completely safe, but how much judgment a kid has and at what age. Maybe that 9 year old could handle problems that come up, like a rerouted train that might bring him to an unfamiliar place, or some other things that come up, like a group of older kids trying to hassle him. I know I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting a kid take the subway alone until at least 11 or 12, but I wouldn’t impose my standards on anyone else.

I always think of Etan Patz’ parents. He was only 6, but he was only walking a short distance to school. And he was never seen again.

Still, I don’t think this is anyone’s business except the parents and the child’s. An adult or teen can come to harm on the subway just as easily. Why would it be okay for the 18-year-old girl who might get abducted and not the 9-year-old boy? I agree that kids today are coddled too much. My parents didn’t coddle me, but they did worry. I like to think they found a good balance. It’s partly a guessing game, part knowing your kids and their city smarts. Back in the ’60s, in a quiet corner of Queens, it was hard to develop those “smarts.” Today, it’s probably a lot easier.

By: Ariel

Ariel — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:36:28 +0000

I hear what you say about coddling kids being counterproductive. It is sad to see people who have been babied by their parents all their lives and are now hardly street smart. Part of growing up in a big city is learning to deal with different kinds of people alone, because your parents will not always be there to save you if trouble surfaces.

By: Victoria

Victoria — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:31:53 +0000

I bet I wasn’t allowed to ride the subway alone when I was 12. Considering it was the same people making the decision, I call that sexism!!!!!!!!

By: Todd

Todd — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:20:56 +0000

I don’t know man, this is a tough one. I’m really glad I don’t have kids yet!

By: R2ro

R2ro — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:40:02 +0000

Fall of 1992. I was 12 1/2 yrs old and commuting to the Upper West Side from Queens.
The first few weeks of school, my mom would accompany me (she was always over-protective) but I soon MADE her realize it was impractical for her to keep doing this long-term (she works downtown).

My logic then was that I was riding during rush hours w/ tons of people. Plus, like you, I have the sense to avoid emptier cars at other times; it’s wiser to be near the conductor.

I’ve been on the subways as long as I can remember. I don’t think there’s a “right” age for a kid to be in the subways alone, rather it depends on the child’s maturity level.