Let me share my experience.

I was born and raised in Europe (more specifically in a city of 2 million people), so I’m very familiar with using public transportation (bus, subway, streetcar, trolleybus, everything). 5 years ago I got married to an man from the U.S. and moved to the U.S. My husband and I live in a major city in the Midwest.

At first I was really excited to use public transportation but I quickly realized it was totally different here. In Europe everyone rides it and everything comes frequently (think about 2-5 minutes wait times, etc). Here in the U.S. mainly poor people ride the bus, most of the bus lines go through sketchy, dangerous neighborhoods and have a lot of “interesting” characters on them. The wait times are horrible, buses come every 30 mins or every hour, even the most popular 3 Downtown bus routes come only every 15 mins.

To get to work I have to take 2 different buses. If I miss my connection, I have to wait like 30 mins. I often feel uncomfortable since I stand out in a way: I’m a clean-cut white female. I have to walk 5-6 mins from home to the bus stop and then walk 5-6 mins again when I get off the 2nd bus to get to work. When I wait for my connection bus, I never stand directly in the bus stop (people would be more likely to approach me if I did that). Instead I stand further away (always making sure I stand near the busier street out of the two) and I only walk to the bus stop when the bus is literally about to pull up.

I don’t wear or carry anything colorful or bright colored, I only carry a regular backpack (nothing fancy or cute, no brand), don’t make eye contact with anyone, refuse to have any small talk. I don’t care if I appear rude/cold/whatever. I figured since I have an accent (like I said I’m from Europe) saying something would make me stand out even more. I never have my phone or anything out on the bus, even if it is ringing I don’t pick it up.

My husband and I are saving up for a car right now. I’m ALL for public transportation, but in the U.S. it’s sketchy, especially for a white female. I can’t speak for bigger cities like NYC, LA, Chicago, etc. I’m talking about my experience, a major Midwestern city.

Thanks Grant and Oh my GOD. You didn’t! Oh that’s embarrassing! You’re never suppose to talk to anyone! No one! I’m literally LMAO-ing hahahhaaha. Oh yes, RBF it and pretend you hate everything.

Lol I know right! I told my husband Western cute is Snoopy. Asian cute is Pikachu (plus like 100 more Pokemon just as cute). Pikachu is most definitely cuter than Snoopy!

Oh that IS silly! 2 days ago there was a fight that broke out at the bus stop I was at (the fight was over something like $10.) I think I felt more unsafe at bus stops than buses (but if I can’t bring anything on the bus I’m definitely not going to have one at the bus stop.)

Sounds like some pretty solid tips. Not much public transportation in NC so no tips to add.

I remember the first time I went to Boston I rode the subway the whole time. I was trying to be friendly chatting people up and kept getting the cold shoulder. I was like what the heck is this crap. Then I started meeting all the crazy subway folks and was like oh okay guess I better pretend like I hate everyone and put my head down.

I forgot to add, Seattle does have concealed carry permits allowed but it appears that public transit vehicles and stations prohibit concealed carry so it is a moot point where you live anyway. Plus unless someone is very well trained, and I’ve been trained in hand gun marksmanship and defense by a licensed police academy, I would not recommend them carrying a concealed weapon. In the hands of an untrained person a handgun is a real hazard to everyone nearby.