Posted Oct. 10 at 12:50 p.m.

Keep your eyes peeled, Green Liners, and be careful. 

Word on the CTA street is that there may be a robbery ring afoot.  This according to Anna Friedman Herlihy who was unselfish enough to warn others about an incident during which she was nearly robbed on a train:

Attached is a flier about what happened to me with some tips for what other riders could have done to help, and what one should do if they are the victim of a similar crime. (Hopefully your mail filter allows attachments.) I'll be passing this out during the morning rush at my own el stop (Austin green line) tomorrow (F) morning, and am sending it out in email widely so that others may distribute it as well. (The community activist in me couldn't stand still just leaving it to the CTA and police to deal with.) See also the discussion on ctatattler.com, for yet another instance reported in the comments section.  There are also some pretty significant issues at hand in such matters--the lack of proper surveillance equipment on CTA trains and platforms, the poor visibility and locations for the attendant call buttons, the reluctance of the police to take reports resulting in much unreported crime.

Download GreenLineRobberyAlert.pdf

Posted May 21, 1:42 p.m.

It's a serious subject, and one that I've heard about from riders over the years: sexual harassment and even assault on the CTA.  But it appears that a group is trying to do something about it, or at least call more attention to the issue.  Check out this note from the Roger's Park Young Women's Action Team.

Earlier this year, one of our members came into our office and announced that she "would no longer ride the EL" to get to school.  She had been physically touched by a man on the train and this was not the first time that this had happened.  As she recounted her story, almost every other YWAT member shared a similar incident.  Some young women discussed being verbally harassed, others had been followed, and a few had been physically accosted.  After a couple of "venting" sessions, members decided to do what they do best -- TAKE ACTION against sexual harassment and violence experienced on Chicago's public transit system.  To launch this next campaign, we are hosting a SPEAK OUT event on Thursday May 22nd from 5 to 7 p.m. If you are unable to attend, you can still participate in our action research project by completing the survey at the bottom of this announcement or on our home page (www.youngwomensactionteam.org).

I wrote a story about this a year ago, and heard suggested solutions from adding another person to the train staff (as in years before) or a stronger police presence on buses and trains.  Have you ever been assaulted, sexually or otherwise, on the CTA?  Share your stories, or any solutions you can think of.  Also let me know if you will attend this event tomorrow evening?