Daily Free Write 11/05: More Cta Adventures

It is 8:06 pm.

Lately there seems to have been once incident or another on the CTA L trains. A week or two ago, I witnessed a man opening up the train doors while moving and falling down. In the news this week, there was a mother rushing to get to the train, and the stroller was caught in the train, dragging the stroller and tossing the baby onto the tracks. Luckily, the baby survived and was fine. Today, the doors were about to close when a woman yelled out, "Hold the doors! I'm late for court!"

I'm wondering if these people realize how foolish and extremely dangerous their actions are. Is it really worth your life, or a life of a child, to rush for a train, when one happens every 7 to 10 minutes? If you miss your stop, why don't you get off at the next stop and double back?

With the baby and the mother,I was reading in the Red Eye today, that she heard the train, and was rushing up the stairs,knowing full well it was getting ready to leave the station. I'm wondering if that mother should be charged with child endangerment, in her hurry to catch the train, she put her baby's life in danger. There still is a pending investigation going on, but that was what caught my eye. I'm guessing the train operator, put her head back in after checking for safety, and closed the doors, probably not guessing that that lady would be foolish enough to try to put the stroller in the doorway.

The other lady, the one who called out about being late for court, and I am not certain what she did, but she caused the train to stop for a few minutes. I suspect she did something similarly foolhardy, trying to enter the train when it was very close to shutting the doors. Train safety is really nothing to mess around with, as there usually is an incident of something going wrong seemingly every day. If her court appearance was that important, either leave earlier, or wait a few minutes for the next train. Nothing is worth serious injury like that, whatever it is, it can certainly wait.

It is 8:16 pm.

Comments: 25

Connie L. Nov 5, 2009, 9:30pm EST

must be exciting to be able to hop onto trains like that go wherever you want to go instead of having to keep up a car

Beth G. Nov 5, 2009, 9:34pm EST

It has it ups and downs. I long to have a car to make it easier for me to do my grocery shopping!

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Kerrell g. Nov 5, 2009, 9:59pm EST

The Ls are fantastic, Connie! It's a hell of a lot better than the sorry excuse for a public transportation system we have here in Macon.

Beth G. Nov 11, 2009, 4:46pm EST

Yeah the L's are pretty good, for the most part, but I had an accident on the L train the other day and have a nice bruise to show for it!

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Kimber L. Nov 5, 2009, 10:12pm EST

I have never used public transportation like that - have never been in a big city where it has been an option. I like the idea of it but I think the noise, crowd, and and speed of it would be scary!

Beth G. Nov 9, 2009, 11:56pm EST

Yeah it can be a bit much at times, especially on a night like tonight!

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phil w. Nov 5, 2009, 10:39pm EST

If you stay on the L ,you'll have lots to write about ,Beth .

Beth G. Nov 7, 2009, 12:10am EST

lol I have no doubt about that Phil.

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KittyMommy2u W. Nov 6, 2009, 5:09am EST

I've never been anywhere close to a train system like that, but I have seen people do some really wild things with the public transportation system here, such as it is, too. People do such fool hardy things as jay walking across a six lane highway in an effort not to miss the bus that travels the highway every 15 to 20 minutes. It's not worth such risks to one's life to do such things.

Beth G. Nov 7, 2009, 12:06am EST

I totally agree with you! I guess this kind of behavior is pretty universal since everyone is generally in a hurry to get to wherever it is they are going to!

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Len Maxwell Nov 6, 2009, 7:47am EST

Reinforces my belief that many people are, basically, stupid.

Beth G. Nov 7, 2009, 12:04am EST

Yeah I really shouldn't be surprised by the stuff people do on the train, but because it happens out of the blue from time to time, I guess I am.

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d d. Nov 6, 2009, 8:44am EST

did you see the one where the stroller went under the train. the baby only had a few scratches...but if I were the mother, they would have to sedate me... I would be a wreck. you know I watched the tape and as the stroller was rolling towards the train, the three people including the mother watched it go. not one stepped forward to grab the handle bar. they play it over and over in slow motion.

Beth G. Nov 6, 2009, 8:54am EST

Oh yeah, that's the incident I was talking about, she should have just waited for the next train. No reason to hurry up only to jeopardize your child's life! That is horrible that no one made the effort to stop the stroller from going down like that!

d d. Nov 6, 2009, 9:56am EST

beth, yesterday a senior in a local High School was killed while crossing a train track around 2pm. she was almost 18years old. I asked my husband, did she not look both ways while crossing? could she not see the train or hear the train..it makes such a rumbling noise? I just don't understand this. they said that the tracks is a short cut home for some kids. The worst part of it all, is that they announced it over the High School loud speaker and kids were sick and stunned.