To hate public transport

[MarySmit]

I have been assaulted three times taking the tube. Twice sexually assaulted: groped while between stations. Once I was under 16 wearing a school uniform (so no doubt about my age) and once pregnant. Both times I couldn't move away, not felt able to speak up for myself due to feeling vulnerable.

Another time I was physically assaulted (completely unprovoked). I was also pregnant at the time. The woman, when challenged, said she didn't realise I was pregnant when she assaulted me.

Other times I have been verbally abused on the bus, for no reason other than trying to board with a buggy (there was room).

It shouldn't be this dangerous, but it is.

Have others experienced similar?

@TomatoAndEggs , I’m in outer SW London and during the many years now that I’ve been using public transport a lot, I almost always find it clean, punctual, and efficient.

The odd person* still thinks it Ok to leave their greasy, smelly MacDonalds wrappers and drinks cans on the floor or seats, but the majority of passengers are perfectly civilised.
*or rather chav, and I make no apologies for using that word in this context.

I work at Tube stations and have done for over 20 years. I've never been sexually assaulted myself on the Tube, but I have helped women in the aftermath of an event. One was a woman literally wanting to hide from a man who declared violence on her. One I walked home late at night because she had a stalker. And one we had to nip to Primark to get some joggers because a man had jizzed on her.

I'm sorry OP that these things have happened to you. There's not enough police on the London Tube or wider transport system. It's bandit country in some areas. TfL needs to do better.

I have to say this is true. It's like there is a whole different population on there, especially in the bit outside central London but before the suburbs.