How To Ride Public Transportation
Sure some people might be scared off by stories like this:
A shooting occurred on a Metro Transit bus this evening in north Minneapolis, and one person was taken to a hospital, the transit spokesman said.. . .The shooting occurred on the No. 5 line, which Gibbons described as the “most heavily used in the region.�
He added that “because of the communities it goes through, it has its share of difficulties.� The No. 5 runs from Brooklyn Center, through north Minneapolis, downtown Minneapolis, south Minneapolis, Richfield, Bloomington and the Mall of America.
Public transportation has the emphasis on the word "public". You can't choose the people that ride on the bus (or train), it comes with the territory. I used to ride that line in order to go to work in Bloomington, didn't really feel unsafe.
But the most important rule is that it is neer a good idea to give an eyefuck, even for a moment. These people on the bus lines and trains like to be kept alone and would only give up their personal space if they have to. Unfortunately even when people like Sarah concentrate on observing this rule they might still get unwanted attention. So we are forced to humor people, big deal. Makes the trip more interesting. I hear people in other places not known for their "Minnesota Ice" likes to have conversations with complete strangers.