Public Transit Safety: How to Stay Alert, Prepared, and Protected While Riding
Most transit trips are routine. A few habits cover the rest: plan the route, wait where people can see you, keep your things close, and move early if something feels off.
By POM Industries · Updated · 6 min read
Short answer: Plan your route and a backup before you leave. Wait in busy, well-lit spots, back from the platform edge. Ride where there are other people or staff, keep bags closed and in front of you, and change seats, change cars or get off at a busy stop as soon as something feels wrong. If you carry pepper spray, check your state's law and your transit agency's rules first.
Part of our Travel Safety Guide. Transit is one part of getting around. The guide covers planning, hotels and what to do if something happens.
Read the guidePlan the trip before you leave.
When you know the route, you spend less time staring at your phone and looking lost.
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Check the route and transfers
Note the line, where you transfer and which stop you get off at. Check service alerts before you go.
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Know the last departure
Late service runs less often, and some lines stop for the night. Have a backup: another line, a rideshare or a taxi.
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Save the route offline
Take a screenshot or download the map. Phones often lose service underground.
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Tell someone when you'll arrive
If you're riding late or alone, one person you trust should know your route and when to expect you.
Where to wait.
Stations and stops are where people stand around distracted. Pick your spot on purpose.
Near staff and cameras
At night, New York's MTA tells riders to wait in the off-hours waiting area, usually on the mezzanine near the station booth, not at the end of the platform. Many systems have something similar.
Back from the edge
Stand near the wall, not the platform edge. If you drop something on the tracks, leave it and tell staff.
At bus stops
Wait on the sidewalk, back from the curb, somewhere lit where other people can see you.
Phone away, one earbud
Keep the volume low enough to hear announcements and the people around you.
Where to sit and how to hold your things.
Choose a spot with other people around you and a clear way out.
| SITUATION | WHAT TO DO |
|---|---|
| The train car is empty | Move to a car with the conductor, the train operator or other riders. On New York subways, the conductor is usually in the middle of the train and the operator is in the front car. |
| You're on a bus and uneasy | Sit near the driver. Avoid an empty back section late at night. |
| You have a phone or bag out | Sit toward the middle of the car, away from the doors. The NYPD recommends this to avoid purse and chain snatching. |
| The car is crowded | Wear your backpack on your front, keep bags zipped and carry your wallet in a front or inside pocket. |
| You're getting drowsy | Stand up or switch seats. Dozing with your things in reach invites theft. |
Riding late at night.
Fewer riders, fewer staff and longer waits mean a little more planning.
Time your arrival
Check the schedule so you aren't waiting long at an empty stop.
Ride with people
Pick the busiest car, or sit near the bus driver or train operator.
Get off where it's busy
If your stop is isolated, ask someone to meet you, or get off at a busier stop and take a ride from there.
Watch who gets off with you
If someone seems to follow you, don't head home. Go into a busy business, a station office or a police station.
If something feels wrong, act early.
You don't need to wait for an emergency to move or ask for help.
| SITUATION | WHAT TO DO |
|---|---|
| Someone is bothering you | Move away, sit near other riders or the operator, change cars or get off at a busy stop. |
| A problem on a bus or train | Tell the driver, conductor or station staff. They can radio for help. |
| A problem in a station | Use a help point or intercom, or your agency's police number, text line or app. Save it before you ride. |
| Immediate danger | Call 911 for a threat, a weapon, a fire, someone on the tracks or a medical emergency. |
Carrying pepper spray on transit.
If you carry it, you're responsible for knowing where it's allowed. Two sets of rules apply: the law where you are, and your transit agency's rules.
Check the law where you ride
Pepper spray laws vary by state and sometimes by city. If your trip crosses state lines, check each one. See pepper spray laws by state.
Check your agency's rules
They differ. Chicago's Metra says its weapons ban doesn't apply to pepper spray or mace. New York City Transit bans weapons and dangerous instruments without naming pepper spray. If your agency's rules aren't clear, ask before you carry it.
Keep it where you can reach it
In a pocket or on a strap, not at the bottom of a bag. Keep the safety closed.
Use it to get away
It's for stopping an attack so you can leave and call for help, never for settling an argument.
POM Key½ oz spray for your key ring
POM Clip½ oz spray that clips to a pocket or strap
Personal Alarm130 dB siren, no spray
Check your state's law and your transit agency's rules before you carry pepper spray.
Before you ride
- Route and transfers checked
- Last departure and a backup plan
- Route saved offline
- Phone charged
- Someone knows when you'll arrive (late or alone)
- Fare card ready before the gate
- Bag closed, valuables out of sight
- Pepper spray legal here and within reach
Mistakes to avoid.
Standing at the platform edge
Wait near the wall and step up only when the train has stopped.
Staying in an empty car
Move to a car with other riders or staff, even if it means walking.
Scrolling by the doors
Phones get grabbed as the doors close. Put it away or move to the middle.
Waiting too long to move
If something feels off, change seats or cars right away. You don't need a reason.
Questions.
What's the safest place to sit on a subway or train?
A car with other riders, toward the middle and away from the doors. Late at night, ride in the car with the conductor or the train operator if your system has one.
Where should I sit on a bus?
Near the driver if you feel uneasy. Keep your bag on your lap or between your feet, and avoid an empty back section late at night.
How do I avoid getting pickpocketed on transit?
Keep bags zipped and in front of you in crowds, carry your wallet in a front or inside pocket, and put your phone away when you're near the doors.
Can I carry pepper spray on public transit?
It depends on your state's law and your transit agency's rules. Some agencies say their weapons ban doesn't cover pepper spray; others ban weapons or dangerous items without naming it. Check both before you carry it.
What should I do if someone is harassing me on a bus or train?
Move away early, get near other riders or the operator, change cars or get off at a busy stop, and tell staff. Call 911 if you're in danger.
Is it safe to wear headphones on transit?
Keep the volume low enough to hear announcements and the people near you. Late at night or somewhere new, use one earbud.
Transit is one part of the trip.
The Travel Safety Guide covers planning before you go, getting around, hotels and nights out, and what to do if something happens.