Posted Oct. 6 at 5:03 p.m.

How said that ridiculous and needless violence has again claimed the life of a teen in Chicago, and on a CTA bus, no less...an enclosed space where customers are merely trying to get from A to B. 

This cannot be blamed on the transit agency, any more than the street corners can be blamed when shots ring out there. There are no metal detectors, armed guards or any other practical law enforcement tools onboard these buses, and surely the people who choose to act out on these vehicles know it. 

"Going Public" would like to take a moment to express deep sorrow and sympathy for the family and friends of Kiyanna Salter, a Julian High School student slain on a bus, the victim of a pointless argument between two strangers on Sunday.   

The details of her death, caught in the crossfire between armed strangers, are both saddening and sickening.  A wake-up call, not on CTA safety, but on big city violence. 

Earlier this year, I had the good fortune to speak with Ron Holt, father of another Julian student named Blair, also felled during a shoot-out on a CTA bus last year.  At the time we talked, he spoke of how random the violence was that took his son, who died trying to shield a seatmate from bullets.  What a shame to see a similar incident end another promising future.

There is not much to do in such cases, but if riders witnessed anything, please call police and share any details you can offer.  Show these offenders who turn a bus ride into a killing zone that human life does not come at so cheap a price. 

I think the recent violence on the 71st line is absolutely unspeakable and horrible, but unfortunately on the "real south side" of the city is it also not uncommon for violence, arguments, public drunkeness, etc. to occur. I think the CTA can do a whole lot more to help protect us like having more CTA cops do more interaction with south side routes like 71st, 55th, 87th, 4 cottage, 3 king, 9 ashland, etc. and not just once they reach downtown. I can't tell you how many times I have seen CTA patrols board at a downtown stops and ride a couple of blocks and get off- gee thanks, that only covers downtown. I also think the driver's should be allowed more leeway to make decisions as to when people might be disruptive to their routine or their run such as an obvious drunk person that boards the bus smelly or using profanity the minute that they step foot on the bus, the driver should be allowed to let these types of people board at the driver's discretion. Just like any other major bus company or business, there are certain behaviors that are not and will not be tolerated, it should be no different for the CTA, just because it is a public service does not mean that the rules or enforcement thereof should be lax. I think more drivers need to be encouraged to take proactive roles in their running of that bus such as when they hear something that sounds out of the ordinary (such as a loud or boisterous converstion(s) or argument(s)or see something that is clearly against the rules because it is posted (like no blocking the aisle or eating a meal while taking up the seat next to you or playing music loud enough for everyone to hear)or you clearly know something is against the law (like drinking liquor), get up and say something or use the microphone and say something. I am not saying get into a physical altercation with the person, but at the very least make it known that you will not have it on your bus and that the control of the bus is clearly yours and if you have to call the Police, do it because that it what they are getting paid to do, serve and protect. It would also be helpful if the driver's were euipped with more to help them have control over their buses like having the same equipment on all of the buses like monitors in the front or in eye view that showed a roving view of the entire bus, I don't care if it is like big brother is watching, they already are with the camera's on board, so why not step it up some more or having a better working phone on board all buses for the immediate access to dispatch or directly to the police if need be. I have noticed that there are certain bus drivers on CTA routes like the 4 Cottage Grove, 3 King Drive and 1 Indiana/Hyde Park that are known to not take any crap, so guess what that also means, people already know when you see that driver if you are up to something, you don't even bother getting on their bus. So I know it can be done and it helps us all, the passengers and the drivers.

Ms. Obal
Brainerd

Thank goodness for surveillance cameras.

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