The DC. Metro’s Platforms Are a Menace

When you live and work in Washington, D.C., you get a lot of use out of the Metro. Because it is so convenient to use the Metro a lot more people are taking the train than ever before. This has led to serious overcrowding on the platforms – an annoyance for many people, but a downright dangerous situation for passengers with disabilities. Now, advocates are fighting back on behalf of riders who could be in peril because of the overcrowding.

An article in The Daily Caller quotes Patrick Sheehan, chairman of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority accessibility advisory committee, as saying “A lot of the disability community – because station platforms are getting more crowded – have had difficulty in boarding the trains, [and] getting enough time to figure out where the doors are.” The change he is primarily advocating for is the length of time that the doors stay open Right now, there are too many people pushing their way through the crowds to get onto the train before the doors close, putting everyone at risk of a serious injury. If the doors were to stay open for at least 10 seconds, then there would be ample time for riders to embark and disembark without having to rush.

Changes have been a long time coming

Mr. Sheehan’s request is borne from a long history of potential danger. The most recent incident occurred in November of 2015, when a disabled rider filed a complaint with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). WAMU 88.5. reports that ““Metro station employees and loudspeakers did nothing to clear the platform, and it was extremely dangerous and scary…. If anyone had panicked, people would have been crushed to death and pushed onto the rails… it was nearly impossible to move.” Both Metro personnel and the FTA have said they are investigating the issue and working on a solution, but no real fix has been forth as of yet.

What kinds of dangers are you really facing?

All passengers are at risk on overcrowded platforms, so this issue must be dealt with swiftly and effectively. Aside from bumps and bruises, people waiting for the Metro can suffer serious crushing injuries to their feet or the rest of their bodies if, during the surge forward, they fall to the ground. There is also a risk of someone being pushed off the platform itself and into the way of a moving train. With so many people jostling to get on board, you could also suffer a blow to the face or the head by someone using his or her elbows to get through, or by a person who is carrying an object – like a briefcase or a piece of luggage – over his or her head in order to keep it safe.

We applaud the Metro Authority and the FTA for looking into this issue, and we hope that they remain diligent. Past efforts by the D.C. Metro seemed to have focused more on protecting their own image and not on protecting their riders; we hope that this time, they get it right.