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OK I finally decided to take DART up on their offer for free trips along the Green line today. I have never ridden DART before and wanted to check out their rail lines, and compare them to Atlanta and New York. Since I may be having to commute daily to downtown, I decided I wanted to try DART as an alternative to driving. I left from the Downtown Carrollton station and turned around at Fair Park.

Overall the cars I rode in were fairly clean, and the announcements were all in English. IMO the cars are better than New York, but not quite on par with Atlanta's MARTA.

However, I noted that I only saw two DART security officials (or should I call them security-ett officials) all day, and both were on cars around the Fair Park area. I saw a few unattended DART automobiles at various stations, but no actual DART people until I was south of Downtown. Since my daily commute would only be to the Akard St. station, I certainly feel that the lack of presence of any DART folks between Carrollton and Downtown is something worth noting.

Todays free rides may not be indicative of the demographics of daily ridership, but certainly the lack of DART presence on any of the cars will cause me to pay particular attention to my daily carry needs. I certainly feel that the DART system can be an attractive selection for those seeking to behave badly, and the lack of DART or LEO presence only serves to reinforce the need to stay aware of your surroundings, and "carry accordingly". DART can be a great alternative to getting to the AAC for a Mavs game, the West End, or Downtown, but it also opens up new opportunities to expose yourself to criminal intent.

I apologize to forum members outside of DFW, as this post is targeted for those who may choose to ride DART around DFW.

The last time I had the occasion to ride a DART train, I saw what I am fairly sure was a drug exchange, noted numerous men wearing signs of gang affiliation, and had a man who appeared to be high threaten to "ice" me who kicked in my face for looking at him on the train and then followed me at a run once I exited the train. I never saw an officer or any DART official.

I am not riding DART again any time soon. Far too much drama for this gal!

Hoi Polloi wrote:The last time I had the occasion to ride a DART train, I saw what I am fairly sure was a drug exchange, noted numerous men wearing signs of gang affiliation, and had a man who appeared to be high threaten to "ice" me who kicked in my face for looking at him on the train and then followed me at a run once I exited the train. I never saw an officer or any DART official.

I am not riding DART again any time soon. Far too much drama for this gal!

He probably wanted your tiara.

However, I noted that I only saw two DART security officials (or should I call them security-ett officials) all day, and both were on cars around the Fair Park area. I saw a few unattended DART automobiles at various stations, but no actual DART people until I was south of Downtown. Since my daily commute would only be to the Akard St. station, I certainly feel that the lack of presence of any DART folks between Carrollton and Downtown is something worth noting.

I never ride DART without carrying. You shouldn't either. LE presence is practically non-existent.

C-dub wrote:

Hoi Polloi wrote:The last time I had the occasion to ride a DART train, I saw what I am fairly sure was a drug exchange, noted numerous men wearing signs of gang affiliation, and had a man who appeared to be high threaten to "ice" me who kicked in my face for looking at him on the train and then followed me at a run once I exited the train. I never saw an officer or any DART official.

I am not riding DART again any time soon. Far too much drama for this gal!

He probably wanted your tiara.

Oooh! I bet that was the problem. I wasn't wearing it. If I had, I bet he wouldn't have messed with me!

All the rhetoric aside, it was times like that where I am completely helpless and facing a crazy druggie that really bring home to me that you can't rely on anyone else to protect you. Here I was surrounded b people who were all too concerned with protecting themselves to get involved with protecting me.

There was a woman I noticed who was sitting up and looking around on the train. She was in her work uniform and looked like she rode the train often. When the druggie got on, she put her head completely down like to sleep. It didn't stand out until the druggie got off. She sat back up again and started talking. She had the routine down. Keep your head down and don't look for trouble. She would turn to look out the window or close her eyes any time the gang-clad men would go by her. I do not want to live like that. Having to keep my head down, hoping they don't notice me, wondering what is going on out there. I'm not looking for trouble, but if it finds me, I want to be able to hold my head up and face it effectively.

I guess I've been lucky. I've ridden DART trains from Richardson to downtown Dallas for jury duty and conferences and from there to American Airlines Center for sports events. The worst experience I've had was three young black men who talked incessantly and constantly referred to each other using a derogatory term for blacks. There was an elderly black man sitting in front of me, and I couldn't help but think how embarrassing it must have been for him. People of his generation gave their lives for the right to ride on that DART train, and these kids were using that offensive word like it was an adjective. I came very close to saying something to them but stopped short when they got up to get off at the next stop.

I don't anticipate seeing any LEOs onboard DART trains since DART has their own security. However the few security I saw were corpulent, unarmed, and more interested in their celll phones than their passengers. IMO - virtually worthless in the event of a need to prevent or react to any offense. I will never let that fact prevent me from taking DART for work or enjoyment, but will also never let myself be put in a defenseless, vulnerable position.

DART has its own TCLEOSE-certified law enforcement.
http://www.dart.org/about/dartpolice/dartpolice.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hoi Polloi wrote:

C-dub wrote:

Hoi Polloi wrote: There was a woman I noticed who was sitting up and looking around on the train. She was in her work uniform and looked like she rode the train often. When the druggie got on, she put her head completely down like to sleep. It didn't stand out until the druggie got off. She sat back up again and started talking. She had the routine down. Keep your head down and don't look for trouble. She would turn to look out the window or close her eyes any time the gang-clad men would go by her. I do not want to live like that. Having to keep my head down, hoping they don't notice me, wondering what is going on out there. I'm not looking for trouble, but if it finds me, I want to be able to hold my head up and face it effectively.

Well spoken. That should be the mantra of all of us who use our CHL to protect ourselves and our family.
'
Joe

I gave up on the DART train a few years ago.
Commuting from Fort Worth to downtown Dallas, it took me an hour an I still had to walk four blocks to my office.
I rode it for about four months and in that time, discovered that most folks ride the same car and know each other visually at least. Sometimes folks even say "hi" or "how's your day?" When weird folks or thugs wander on board, everyone ducks down and act like ground squirrels.

I found the environment stressful because you are all alone in the crowd. The wolves can pick who they want, then get off the train before anyone can stop them. Further, I wouldn't trust DART security to subdue anyone without hurting by standers. So, I figure I'm worth the extra cost to drive myself to work.
My two cents,
Nick

Hoi Polloi wrote:There was a woman I noticed who was sitting up and looking around on the train. She was in her work uniform and looked like she rode the train often. When the druggie got on, she put her head completely down like to sleep. It didn't stand out until the druggie got off. She sat back up again and started talking. She had the routine down. Keep your head down and don't look for trouble. She would turn to look out the window or close her eyes any time the gang-clad men would go by her. I do not want to live like that.

Fearful compliant sheep who know their place and cower from the wolves --that is exactly the kind of liberal paradise the anti-gun and anti-self-defense crowd wants to create.

i live in carrollton and the idea of the dart into downtown for an event at the AAC or something sounds great. I would never get on it without my 2a, and you cannot carry at the AAC so i imagine we will never set foot on the dart train.

god bless.

I find DART security to be an interesting paradox. I've never ridden much because of my concerns over security. I did, however, work at one of the large Dallas office buildings with DART line beside it. DART security officers were everywhere and were often seen writing tickets for those not crossing the street in the corner crosswalks.

So it seems that it is much more important to write citations for j-walking than to protect the actual DART riders. I do understand the potential danger to someone crossing the DART tracks but think that it pales in comparison to the risks to the riders from druggies and gang members.