Metroverheard: Child Abuse
Red Line, Union Station. “Doors closing” chime sounds just as a woman with a child in a stroller is struggling a bit to get the stroller onto the train. She’s only part of the way in when the doors close right on the stroller, which is fortunately strong enough to withstand the pressure, leaving the baby unharmed. Now, we all know that unlike elevator doors train doors do not retract when they strike an object so please, etc., etc. but I try and push the doors apart from outside while another man inside does the same.
The doors open again and the mother and stroller get in. (As an added bonus, I’m able to get in too.) Mother is relieved, baby is oblivious to any incident, everything seems okay.
“Red Line, next stop, Judiciary Square,” comes the train operator’s voice Then, a slightly flippant woman’s voice sounds through the train P.A.:
“Ma’am, that’s child abuse.”
Smiles, some laughter.
But then I thought to myself, What the hell? The mother was trying to get on, and they were the ones who closed the door on her. If anyone abused children that day it sure wasn’t that Mom.
It was too the Mom. She knew the doors were closing, she heard the chime and the voice, and declined to head either.
Next time she can wait for the next train instead of endangering her child and delaying everyone on that one.
Declined to heed the warning too.
In her defense, she was already struggling with getting her stroller over the gap when the doors chimed, and given the wait between trains off-peak, I don’t think one could fault her for not pulling back out when the doors chimed. This wasn’t someone running to catch a chiming train; this was someone already part of the way in.
I cannot believe this!! That is the reason I do not ride to this day. That, and the fact that it now costs less to just drive. Did anyone get the conductor’s name? What a jerk!!
Hmm.. well in off-peak I could see the moment’s wait, but that’s not when most people think a train can hold just one more.
Its when the train is packed, there is another just behind, and people like Wynn can’t wait a few minutes so others don’t have to wait for them.
I’ve seen way too many fools (with babies even) hold up a train, or worse, jam the doors, because they just had to get on that train, delaying everyone and themselves in the end.
I’d be for electroshock therapy for those caught trying to rush train doors. Teach them to mind the door gap right quick.
A similar but more terrifying incident happened here in the West Coast yesteday :
Riders race to save man dragged by streetcar, his hand caught in door