Written by DCist contributor Colin Peppard.
As we reported on Friday, Metro’s new terrorism prevention policy basically amounts to a hopeful plea from the management to please keep the trains clear of food, drink, and explosive devices in backpacks. While we Metro riders are certainly happy to keep our eyes peeled and point out the errant package, we didn’t realize that we’d be running the whole operation ourselves. A writer to yesterday’s Dr. Gridlock recounts:
“I boarded an Orange Line train at Foggy Bottom and noticed a black leather backpack or briefcase under the seat in front of me. When the last passenger departed my car at Vienna, the bag was still there. I reported it to the station attendants, one of whom thanked me and then turned to his colleagues and started laughing. I waited a few minutes, and none of them left the booth to check out the bag. Since no train blew up that day, I assume it was a case of a customer who forgot a bag.”
We are fine with asking riders to play a role in ensuring their own safety. In fact, the huge volume of people that a transit system must move each day makes our vigilance essential. But talented as we riders are, we could still use a little backup from Metro employees from time to time.
Picture taken by MatthewBradley.
