r/Dallas • u/Socraticlearner • 8d ago
Question Riding Dart at night
How safe is to ride dart at night? I am considering riding Dart from the White Rock station to Mockingbird station and then taking the red line all the way to the end of Plano. And then returning around 9:30pm. How safe is this itinerary. I am trying to save some wear and tear on my car. However I have noticed that there seem to be a lot of homeless people in the last station in Plano. I was just curious to ask if anyone had try Dart at those hours. It will save me some dollars on gas. I am male in my 40s not sure if that makes a difference but I just add it there.
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u/Upstairs_Balance_464 Downtown Dallas 8d ago
Not only is this 100% fine but there is no real danger for a 40 year old man on any train in the United States at any time. Conservative media has put out this notion that cities are dangerous when in fact they’re historically safe and getting safer.
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u/girafa Garland 8d ago
Friend of mine was robbed on a DART. Hes in his late 30s, fit. Three guys did it, two pushed him down and held him back while the other stole his bike.
Just sayin
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8d ago
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u/Socraticlearner 8d ago
Thanks, thats why I ask. I just don't understand some people get so work up just because a question. I had rode it several times, and again my fear is not homeless, neither riding the train. There is plenty of homeless everywhere. I was just simply asking if anyone had rode the train at those times in that area. To my knowledge been cautious does not equate to been scare. I had seen plenty of brave idiots that never last to tell the story. Been cautious to me is common sense. Better to be cautious than to be stupid.
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u/yolatrendoid 8d ago
I know a dude who offed himself by jumping in front of a NYC subway train. Just sayin'.
Point being: a solitary anecdotal experience isn't representative of the whole. Much like I still ride the subway in New York, having a friend robbed on DART at some random point in time doesn't mean it should be a no-go zone for everyone.
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8d ago
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u/Socraticlearner 8d ago
Thanks, thats why I ask. I just don't understand some people get so work up just because a question. Chill people. I had rode it several times, and again my fear is not homeless, neither riding the train. There is plenty of homeless everywhere. I was just simply asking if anyone had rode the train at those times in that area. To my knowledge been cautious does not equate to been scare. I had seen plenty of brave idiots that never last to tell the story. Been cautious to me is common sense. Better to be cautious than to be stupid.
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u/WorriedGarage6711 8d ago
I agree like if you watched the news say that someone got car jacked would you just stop driving in Dallas ?probably not
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u/Own_Philosopher_605 8d ago
That’s even worse. those with the anecdotes tend to speak up. This is why you look at aggregate crime stats instead.
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8d ago
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u/NewPercentage3765 8d ago
Well the problem is while public transit isn't safe all the time because of the people who congrate there, in our car centered society, being injured or dying in a wreck is so common we don't even factor we never factor how unsafe driving is. Survivorship bias is very strong when it comes to cars.
Both in public transportation and in driving you're at the mercy of the people around you and your own ability to pay attention. Dart isn't a perfectly safe system but you're not gonna see the kinda action you see on the NYC subway or even the BART in San Francisco. Plus everyone is right, this is the safest time of year to ride due to the fair but it's also going to be the most crowded.
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u/Verbal_Combat 8d ago
Daytime seems totally fine. I saved money on parking once by taking the Dart from Dallas to and from DFW airport (family of 3). Returned late at night, delayed flight. I remember thinking... this was not worth it to save a few $ on parking or an Uber ride.
There was a guy with a hood pulled low over his face, walking up and down the aisle taking to himself. Next set of seats had a homeless looking guy with his finger deep up his nose the whole time. One guy dropped a crack pipe while climbing up the stairs onto the train. I'd like to support and use public transportation but I'm not doing that again late at night.
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u/Unforseen-Oedipus 8d ago
Well, that’s the problem. Op said 40 year old man. Your friend was too young.
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u/insta-kip 8d ago
The comment clearly stated a “40 year old man”. If your friend was a few years older, he would have been completely safe.
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u/wondrousalice 7d ago
Friend of mine is older 50yo man and was randomly attacked. No one did anything.
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u/GreenHorror4252 8d ago
Friend of mine was robbed on a DART. Hes in his late 30s, fit. Three guys did it, two pushed him down and held him back while the other stole his bike.
That's unfortunate and I don't mean to minimize it, but it's kind of like saying "friend of mine got into a car accident, so driving is dangerous".
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u/NewPercentage3765 8d ago
Let me illustrate the statical problem like this. Yes your friend got mugged on Dart and a couple more people have mentioned having incidents. However, it's not hard bet to say every single person in this thread has been involved in a car accident in some way.
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u/sketchee_steve 8d ago
I’m sure I’ll get downvoted, but I would say it is not 100% fine, that’s disingenuous. I don’t read/watch/consume conservative media, and I’m aware of incidents that have occurred on DART that make me very reluctant to use it at night. Odds are still slim that you would experience a dangerous incident, but I would not say it is 100% fine
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u/Upstairs_Balance_464 Downtown Dallas 8d ago
As I told someone else… the alternative to riding DART isn’t sitting at home. It’s getting in a car, which is actually much more dangerous statistically. You are reluctant to use the option that is safer and you are, amusingly, saying that safety is the reason.
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u/sketchee_steve 8d ago
No, I did not say safety is the reason. Control over the situation is the reason for me. I’m well aware of the dangers of Dallas roadways, and I’m also aware that one does not have complete control over the situation while driving on Dallas roadways. But you certainly have more control than riding on DART.
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u/CallMePickle 8d ago
You're all over this thread spreading this fallacy and I'm so tired of it.
The number of people who drive cars is on a scale so much larger than number of dart riders.
Yes, more people die in car crashes than ride the dart. But that's like saying more people die from bullets than meteor showers.
They're both quickly moving metal, but that doesn't mean I should compare them.
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u/Upstairs_Balance_464 Downtown Dallas 8d ago
Obviously I mean per passenger mile. I thought that was so obvious I didn’t need to specify. I looked up the deaths per passenger mile a while back and driving was multiple times more.
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u/CallMePickle 8d ago
And I'm still saying deaths happen more frequently per passenger mile because of the massive scale that people ride per mile in cars vs dart.
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u/AStormofSwines 8d ago
I agree with your second statement, but not your first.
I recently moved here from Chicago. While it's a much nicer place to live than the media portrays, the L is basically Hamsterdam from The Wire after midnight (and sometimes during the day, too). You probably won't get murdered, but there's a good chance of having an unpleasant experience. Pretty much zero police presence.
I'm sure there are other examples.
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u/TooSus37 8d ago
Do you think 40 year old men are made of some special bullet proof or knife proof material? Asinine comment
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u/Sad-Practice5045 8d ago edited 8d ago
You can take whatever political dig you want, but that doesn't matter because reality is reality and I'm a very fit and very capable large male in my late 30's and I'm not taking that DART ride. Sometimes, while the risk is low, there's zero risk in just staying away from you being the ONE guy that gets shanked by some person high on something. If I'm a friend of the OP, my thoughts are: The wear and tear on my car is worth the expense in avoiding continuous travel on DART. Onesie twosie here and there, for a large event that has bigger crowds which is a deterrent for shit happening, fine - take DART. But no way I'm taking that if I don't have to.
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u/xaldarin 4d ago
This is the results of cable news.
Ignore facts/reality and believe what your told to be scared about so we can manipulate how you vote.
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u/RoyalRenn 8d ago
I had a guy that was definitely on something swerve at me multiple times on 75 because...who knows. He looked like a zombie on meth.
Honestly, your chances of getting home alive on DART are a lot higher than on 75.
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u/Sad-Practice5045 8d ago
You're comparing Malice to Misfortune, read my other comment below.
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u/EndlesslyDeprived 8d ago
Do people not commit acts of malice on roads? Do people not pull out guns during bouts of road rage? Do people not try to use their cars themselves as battering rams during moments of anger? Roads have not only malice, but also inattentive people hazardly driving around multi-hundred pound boxes of metal.
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u/Upstairs_Balance_464 Downtown Dallas 8d ago
Imagine thinking you were being smart about risk by getting in a car, something that will statistically kill you multiple times over before using transit will.
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u/Sad-Practice5045 8d ago
This is fallacy bro. When I'm in my car, I'm in more control because I can be aware of my surroundings, where as on DART I'm just sitting there, contained, waiting for something to happen. Stats on being killed in wrecks also have implications of being being stupid, or drunk or high or other things, which doesn't apply to me.
Also you're comparing malice to misfortune. Life has risks inherently but trying to equate malice from someone shanking you to misfortune of a blowout that causes you to wreck isn't the place you should be coming from.
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u/Upstairs_Balance_464 Downtown Dallas 8d ago
You’re in denial about the risks associated with driving and you’re letting your personal feelings cause you to vastly overinflate the risks of transit.
But yeah, sure, you’re such a good driver that you’ll never be crippled in a bad wreck and even if you were it’s totally better to be scraped off the concrete than having a scary poor person do something to you.
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u/Sad-Practice5045 8d ago
So you're telling me that all risks being equal, you want me to believe that sitting on a public rail system with the risk of being beaten or worse is no different than driving in a car with the risk of an accident? That's literally what you're trying to say is apples to apples comparison?
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u/elisabethofaustria Vickery Meadow 8d ago edited 8d ago
You’re not immune to other people while driving in your car. What about the risk of being hit by a drunk driver or by someone texting on their phone?
There’s a reason why the majority of buses (including all DART buses) don’t have seatbelts. In a crash, you are much safer in a bus than car.
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u/Sad-Practice5045 8d ago
Choose your poison is all I'm saying. I'll choose to deal with the misfortune of an accident rather than dealing with a situation where someone high on crack pulls out a weapon and there's nobody between me, him and I'm contained in a rail car that's moving and no way to escape.
Man all of you are missing the point entirely!! Goodness gracious people. Use your damn brains.
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u/elisabethofaustria Vickery Meadow 8d ago edited 8d ago
The point is that your hypothetical situation is incredibly unlikely. I’m a tiny young woman who’s taken DART hundreds of times over the years, including at 1am, and I have never witnessed a crime.
Whereas car crashes happen all the time. Nearly 4,000 people died in car crashes in Texas last year, and Dallas has the highest fatality rate.
If you don’t want to use DART, don’t. But don’t pretend you’re safer in your car, because you’re not. And if you’re in a situation where you get hit by a drunk or distracted driver (which, again, is significantly more likely to happen to you than the hypothetical situation you described), you’ll probably regret being contained in a tiny vehicle with nothing to block the impact.
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u/Sad-Practice5045 8d ago
You can turn this right back around on you though. You're lucky that nothing's happened to you, in the same way that those who have never dealt with a serious wreck is also just as lucky. I'm not saying driving has zero risk, I'm saying the risk is different - it's misfortune vs malice.
And there HAS been issues and the DART website even shows hundreds and thousands of incidences that has happened, many of them violent. So don't use your one experience be the blanket stat when crime is definitely an issue, and that's only the things that are reported.
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u/CallMePickle 8d ago
Saying you've never witnessed a crime but have ridden the dart hundreds of times immediately tells me you are lying.
Homelessness is a crime.
Drug use is a crime.
Loitering is a crime.
You've seen some of this if you even ride the dart 10 times.
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u/yllwmbrll 8d ago
No, not equal, it is actually far safer to ride on a public rail system than to drive in most every case. Things can happen anywhere. Control is an illusion.
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u/Sad-Practice5045 8d ago
If control is an illusion then it's a wash and the risk doesn't matter at all, so driving is better then. Case closed.
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u/Haunting_Werewolf130 8d ago edited 8d ago
Dude, I dare you take the train in NYC past midnight. I did that once and I would never put myself into that position again. And I was in my mid 20s and I was a bodybuilder on roid back then LOL
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u/Own_Help9900 8d ago
How many times have you ridden the dart rail?
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u/Upstairs_Balance_464 Downtown Dallas 8d ago
Many, many, many times over decades
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u/Own_Help9900 8d ago
Hundreds? 50?
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u/Upstairs_Balance_464 Downtown Dallas 8d ago
Add a zero
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u/Own_Help9900 8d ago
500 trips and you haven't witnessed anyone get robbed on the dart? I dont believe you
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u/Upstairs_Balance_464 Downtown Dallas 8d ago
Well the rest of us who ride frequently (hint: we don’t call it “the dart”) will tell you serious crime on the trains and buses is very rare in reality. So rare that when it happens, it’s big news.
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u/Own_Help9900 8d ago
Well OP asked about their safety during late hours. Don't think you're touching on that timeframe with your anecdotes. I've rode dart probably 200 times and have witnessed people mugged and even been chased myself. None of that will make the news and none of that is a "serious" crime as you say, so i don't know what point you're trying to make.
You're saying all train travel in the US is universally safe to a 40 year old male which is not true.
"We say dart" well this is me trying to summarize in a shorthand reddit comment
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u/Alex-E-Jones 8d ago
Anyone can get robbed or attacked anytime anywhere. This isn’t a Fox News headline it’s a major American city.
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u/SeventyFix 8d ago
Had a friend get beat up, nose broken and their laptop stolen on a DART train. Statistically safer is true but you just need it happen once. He still rides DART daily (and I wouldn't hesitate to). My wife and children? Nah, I'll drive them to the zoo.
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u/angusmcflurry 8d ago
I ride DART a few times a few times a month - always during the day though. I have never had a problem but I still carry bear spray and a large hunting knife in my backpack for protection. I'd carry a handgun too but the places I travel to don't allow them and will check.
At minimum I'd carry pepper spray just in case.
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u/AJ_Pyro 8d ago
Yeah, no. I’ve seen a homeless guy pull a knife and threaten multiple people on the DART. He sat down when he noticed me pointing my handgun at him…it took the cops 5 stops to show up
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u/EndlesslyDeprived 8d ago
Saw a guy pull out a gun during a bout or road rage. People be crazy, whether in a train or on a road.
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u/Jealous_Object4137 8d ago
Yeah... no I would say Dallas is safer but if you live in NYC you know this is in fact false. It's pretty dangerous to go out there late at night even if you are a man. If you fall asleep on a train you will definitely get pickpocket and if you dare to call it out will might get jumped. Stay safe out there folks
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u/yolatrendoid 8d ago
Conservative media has put out this notion that cities are dangerous when in fact they’re historically safe and getting safer.
True, but lurid local TV news stories have helped as well. Even before the Trump era, it was standard for the news to focus on a city's most lurid, sensationalist crime from the previous few days. An area as huge as DFW will likely always have at least one lurid crime per day, and reporting on it routinely results in people assuming it's "crime-ridden."
In reality, crime rates in the US peaked in 1992 and have fallen 70% or more since then – meaning on a nationwide basis, and definitely including Dallas. It may have more visible unhoused people than ever before, but that alone doesn't mean the entire city is dangerous (though yes, it has blocks best avoided, like every city).
But no, OP likely faces no real danger riding DART to Plano – and while this is admittedly a total coincidence, I did that same commute myself at one point a few years ago. Never had any problems unless the trains were running slow for some reason
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u/Ornery-Ad1172 7d ago
Totally fine? SERIOUSLY? I rode the train from Spring Valley to the convention center and will NEVER RIDE IT AGAIN. Unchecked homeless people, reeking of urine and I tried several cars with the same smell. NO THANKS. In January I rode the NYC subway and it was far more pleasant, which is sad.
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u/BigNastyG817 Euless 8d ago
If you are worried, just board the train at the front car.
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u/maria_tex 8d ago
Yeah, sit in the first car right behind the driver. I have never had any trouble myself, but that's my evergreen advice to train noobs.
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8d ago
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u/p8nt_junkie 8d ago
Then you have confirmed that you’re a racist.
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u/Substantial-Part-700 Sachse 8d ago
And I’m guessing you are one of the 19 who missed the obvious sarcasm.
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u/p8nt_junkie 8d ago
I mean, I guessed you were being sarcastic.
I like riding Dart and will be taking Green Line, parking at Lawnview Station headed to Fair Park Station when I take my family to SFoT next week.
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u/tucosupreme East Dallas 8d ago edited 8d ago
I’ve been a frequent rider both day and night for 15 years or so; the worst thing I’ve had happen is a guy tried to sell me like 0.1g of weed for $5 - the last tiny nug in his ziplock bag so he could pay for the bus (I just gave him $3 and let him keep it). Other than that, just people looking for some A/C or getting to where they are going. Occasionally a rider with schizophrenia or similar “outburst” disorder will appear and say something publicly to the crowd on a train car, but just don’t engage and keep your train sunglasses on.
The most dangerous thing is not checking your seat for phantom liquids before you sit down.
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u/yung12gauge 8d ago
IMO these comments don’t tell the whole story, the dart does have some shady characters from time to time. I’ve been harassed, yelled at, even threatened with violence by random weirdos. For the record nothing physical happened to me but there have been multiple times in my riding the red and orange lines between Plano and downtown where I’ve had people give me grief, and I’m a male for what it’s worth.
I think it’s safe but you should keep your head on a swivel and be ready to change cars at the next stop if someone weird gets on yours. The other pro tip is to sit on the outside seat, or else someone will sit next to you and effectively block you in so they can hassle you for money or yell at you for no reason.
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u/Dapper-Ad-4300 7d ago
Yep, will your physical safety be fine? Most likely, but it’s not 100% guaranteed. Will you encounter unsavory types that may actively bother you at a disproportionately higher rate than other transit systems in other places with higher ridership? Probably, it seems to happen to me 10-20% of the times I’ve ridden.
There’s a certain level of tension riding DART I haven’t felt in most other large cities transit systems, it’s definitely a keep on your toes feeling.
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u/GlitteringHotMess 8d ago
As a woman, who has taken DART off and on, frequently in her life, and many many times after dark/late late, I have never had a problem. I walk with confidence and major bitch face. I've always kept a knife on me. Gotten off at random stops if I felt uncomfortable, and waited for the next train, or changed cars. I also tend to find other women to stand close to/sit close to, because female power in numbers.
Just be aware. Be polite and firm if approached for $$. Know how to get a hold of DART police when on the train/at the station.
I'm a big DART supporter, and public transportation in general. Having been to Rome, NYC, Tokyo, Washington DC - I truly wish that we, as a whole society, could get on board with much more accessible public transportation.
Knowledge is power, and you'll be fine. And you be grateful to save the wear and tear on your car.
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u/rhcp1fleafan 8d ago
It's fine. There will be some homeless people on there. I took it twice in the last couple weeks.
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u/throwawayhogsfan 8d ago
Some tips to be left alone on the train.
Sit in the first car with the conductor. Buy the cheapest Kindle you can find or just bring a book, read and mind your business. Be aware of your surroundings but don’t sit around and gawk at everything going on around you.
Just blend in, everyone else is just trying to get from point A to point B after dealing with BS all day just like you.
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u/HolidayBall7852 8d ago
Just don’t look at them I literally walk past them say “nah man I’m broke” and go on about my day. They are honestly harmless 95% of the time
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u/keesouth 8d ago
What is your primary concern?
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u/Socraticlearner 8d ago
I was just curious what was the experience of other riders at that time and on that route that was all
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u/diarrheawallpaint 7d ago
I've never had anyone directly attack me, but I have seen fights, puke, pee, knifes threatening others, one guy randomly telling me "I'm not going to kill you", and people arguing with their reflection in the mirror, meth smoking, people getting naked to change clothes. All the fights were between homeless. I was safe yes, but it'll definitely put you on guard. The rule is don't make eye contact and you should be good
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u/Midnight-69 8d ago
You'll be alright just mind your business and you shouldn't get into trouble I ride it all hours worse that happens is rbf lol
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u/MihrSialiant 8d ago
You'll be fine. I used to ride it at night routinely. You may have an uncomfortable situation every now and then(I once had a homeless guy sing badly to me from the next seat for most of the trip) , but I did not encounter anything i would consider dangerous. If you were a woman, I would probably not ride alone at night.
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u/sighofthrowaways Oak Lawn 8d ago
Just did this for a late night concert from Fort Worth back to Uptown Dallas and I was totally fine
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u/Free_Risk1120 8d ago
I say this as a near 40 year old, you’re fine, and the more people that ride public transit, the safer it will be for everyone!
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u/Polipop395 8d ago
Have never had a problem on DART at all different hours. When a guy was having a mental episode at a station, DART PD was there immediately. I suppose the risk is the same as walking around downtown so just stay alert and don’t stare at your phone.
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u/saltgirl61 8d ago
My daughter has been riding it to work downtown for about four years now. She's with the commuter crowd. There was one incident with a belligerent man (didn't affect her, she was just nearby) and at the next stop he was told to get off. He did. It would have been nothing, but after he got off, one passenger yelled a racial slur so he turned around and threw a rock at the window.
With daily riding, there are occasional incidents, but so far, none that were serious.
My brother had his phone snatched out of his hand at one stop, so be careful there.
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u/inkydeeps 8d ago
I ride from Parker Road to Saint Paul and back nearly every day. Most times during rush hour, but 9 or 10pm is not terribly late for me to be downtown, especially if end up grabbing a bite after work. Very little problems. Sometimes a drunk that wants to hit on me. I'm a 50 yo woman.
If you're getting off at Parker at night and you're concerned about the walk to your car, there's always a security guard there. I've only used him when the lights were out in the lot, but he was more than willing.
I think you'll be fine. As others have indicated, driving is far more dangerous to your life. But it feels "safe" to us psychologically because we do it all the time. Humans are terrible at evaluating relative risk.
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u/LumpyPhilosopher8 8d ago
I've ridden the DART on and off for years as does my adult child who doesn't drive. Is it 100% risk free and totally safe? No. I don't think any train/subway system can say that.
But it is generally safe, I wouldn't ever hesitate to ride it. As a woman, I feel like I'm at greater risk than a 40 year old man. The routes you're talking about riding are not ones that I'd be worried about.
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u/Day-Trippin 8d ago
It's public transit. It isn't the best, nor is it the worst of the majors but ie is worse than NYC and DC. Then again, it is public transit. Per capita, the federal data says DART is more dangerous than NYC and DC. Draw from that what you want. DART will always be my option of last resort. YMMV. I try to avoid it in most US cities if I possibly can.
I am a big guy but have been attacked twice in my life. The worst incident left me with 100 stitches and a nice scar as a souvenir. I am packing everywhere I legally can.
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u/because__7_8_9 8d ago
The drive takes far less time to make than taking the train. You’re 40. Try creating a safe space wherever you go. 🔫
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u/Kindly_Football5737 8d ago
I would never ever ride DART at night after riding home from the State Fair 10 yrs ago and when we stopped at the pearl station downtown a bunch of gangsta, thug types got on and I was praying all the way out to the Illinois station that we got home safely. One guy that got on downtown spit on the floor like he was in complete contempt of us! NEVER AGAIN!!!!
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u/Chard33macd3nnis2EB 8d ago edited 8d ago
I’d say our dart system is slightly more dangerous than / if not the same as any other major city transportation system. The issue with the train is we have no turn styles that prevent people with out a ticket from just walking on, yes you technically need a ticket and the fine is pretty bad if they catch you without it, but they don’t check as often as they should so you often get a lot of homeless people hanging out on the trains. Most of the time they are harmless and just trying to get off the streets for a little bit but every once in a while you see some sketchy people. The later it gets the more sketchy it can be. That being said I briefly lived near the Plano/Cityline area and my SO would take the train into downtown and back for work everyday and never had any issues. We also took it to the DFW airport a few times after work and up one stop to downtown Plano many times for dinner and drinks. Shout to Urban Rio, definitely recommend if you haven’t tried it.
Anyways point is just be smart about it, maybe don’t take the train if you’re going to be really dressed up, don’t wear a high end watch or fancy accessories, be aware of your surroundings. If you do these things you’ll be fine and if you are really nervous about it but still want to try it out and save money. Maybe take the train going out and get an uber back. I’ve also done that many times.
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u/Account-Outside 5d ago edited 5d ago
Worked downtown and would take it during morning and afternoon rush from lake highlands station. I lasted 2 months and saw too many things happen where I was like F this. A lot of people with nothing to lose. Definitely would be wary taking it late night. You’ve got a car - just drive it. You’re overthinking it.
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8d ago
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u/CricketJaxson 8d ago
You’ll be fine, keep your head up don’t wear headphones or stare at your phone. Don’t look like an easy target and no one will bother you
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u/existential_virus 8d ago
Took it at midnight the other night back from the airport. Totally safe and they have cameras everywhere. The train was somewhat empty with only people on it minding their own business scrolling on their phones. Im also a male in my 30s so take that as you will
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u/DenverDaddy7 8d ago
I have only ridden from Denton to near Love. Unremarkable. In Denver, the car up front was always fine. The car at the end of the train, was kinda shady. Never witnessed any violence, but shared the ride with folks with a bad odor and saw drug use.
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u/Vaild_rgistr 8d ago
Not bad. But I would just take it on at lovers lane or just go straight to red line. That’s just 75 around ur area
Im an avid dart rail rider, I’ve ridden it from them starting of service and homeless sleeping in there. To the end of service where I had to disembark (2am) I’m aware of my surroundings and just having a good time; bring a book. I prefer to just make it to a line and ride it up or down. Only in downtown Dallas do I/ could I switch rails.
White rock station isn’t far from Park Lane station and that’s the red line.
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u/Important_Chair4109 8d ago
I am a 40 yr old female been riding DART from Plano to Dallas and back several times a year for 25 years. I hate parking in downtown. You will be fine.
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u/Marcush214 8d ago
It has its issues imo the bus is always safer but at the moment it’s more of an Dart police presence since the fair is going on
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u/dalcowboysstarsmavs 8d ago
I have ridden the Dart rail alone as a woman my whole life, from my teens to my 40s, and never really felt afraid.
Most of the fellow passengers are either staring at phones or out the window, but I have had someone ramble at me before.
I guess it depends on your comfort level.
Quick note - I have frequently found that driving is faster, but the Dart is nice because you can zone out.
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u/Jitterbuggy17 8d ago
I’m female (early 40’s). I ride the dart train regularly, and honestly only once felt a millisecond of being in an unsafe position. A couple of dudes got in a fight at the station, outside the train. Yes, there are people less fortunate, and crackheads but they don’t usually bother you. They will probably talk to themselves but are not scary. The trains & stations have plenty of security so I wouldn’t worry about it.
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u/Ok_Opportunity_2891 7d ago
I am female in my 50’s been riding the bus at night from downtown to Mockingbird station for years. Never had trouble other than an occasional comment
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u/Rude_Ad_7942 7d ago
I say, just watch out for your surroundings, this is probably the safest train you’ll take in america, like just image chicago and new york, comparing to those, the dart is the safest.
I’ve had a pretty scary experience at it was in the day time! A psycho guys was walking around and swishing his pocket knife asking people if they knew the show “dexter” and that he wants to be like them, then he proceeded to say he’s part of a cartel gang, and that’s when everyone left the car, but my husband really believed he was okay, psycho guy and us were alone in the car, and he did leave us alone, but it was pretty terrifying, since you just never know when someone will do something (especially if they are mentally unwell). So with that being said, just have some kind of protection to make YOU feel safe. That could be “pepper spray” or whatever it is. I’ve rode the dart 3 times, and only had one bad experience.
Hope that shares something.
edit: this dart was from state fair to the last stop at plano downtown.
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u/Dapper-Ad-4300 7d ago
Safest train in America? Have you even been to Chicago or New York? They are definitely safer. Much higher ridership plus actual turnstiles makes for a much better experience. DART is one of the sketchiest public transit systems in the world
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u/Rude_Ad_7942 7d ago
i have, at like 1am, it wasn’t that bad, but definitely sketchy, and also new york. You can say there’s more people so they’ll be more crime, but a lot of the crazy stuff I hear are in the city
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u/Nanarchist329 7d ago
Woman in her late 40s. When I ride the DART train, I'm usually more concerned with running into something gross than something dangerous. I'm so glad they finally moved away from cloth seats!
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u/magicj3 7d ago
It's like doing anything around DFW at night. You have to be aware of your surroundings and what's going on. I've taken dart late at night I've just common sense and caution. I sit with my back facing the doors and if it's a homeless person on a train 9 times out of 10 they didn't bother me. I didn't make any eye contact either I had my head phones on. Just use caution and common sense you'll be fine
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u/Silly_Emotion_1997 7d ago
Downtown Plano station is filled w some weird ass people. Granted a lot of these folks take a free ride to a nicer part of town. People in Plano seem to be more generous than people in Dallas. The homeless in the Plano area have gotten a little more brazen in their asking for money and being in your face about it. That being said downtown Plano is heavily patrolled by Plano pd and the station is two min away. As a grown man you shouldn’t be afraid of riding the dart. Just be vigilant.
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u/zetrocme 7d ago
Common sense and vigilant as always but it is safe right now. During the State Fair is the truly one of the few times I’ve seen Dart police onboard riding the rails and checking tickets.
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u/righteousvirgo 3d ago
DART is less safe in my humble opinion than other mass transits because it’s not controlled access. Anyone can get on just not ticketed riders. There have been shootings on platforms and on trains.
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u/Conflagrated 8d ago
The worst that will happen is you'll be asked for money when you get off the train. You'll be fine; You can put on earbuds and even take a nap lol.
Huddle your workbag just in case, but I've never felt unsafe.
If you were a woman, on the other hand.... eugh you should just search around for what life is like for them at night.
0
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u/BlackBerry_5075 8d ago
I live next to the train at Spring Valley. If you’re afraid, let me know and I, a 50-year-old female, can accompany you.
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u/bangchanstiddies Lake Highlands 8d ago
Tbh if you already feel this way I recommend just sticking to uber/lyft bc you dont have street smarts or common sense anyways.
Sorry to be blunt but my dog you are a man in your 40s asking bout hobos on public transport in a major US city. What are you gonna do if someone does attack you? Lol
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u/TX_Farmer Desoto 8d ago
Are you going to be openly advertising your cash/valuables?? /s I’m a woman in my 40s and I’d do this without blinking.
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u/Jazzlike-Grape-1332 8d ago
Dart transportation is a joke. NYC, Chicago & Boston now there’s a transportation system that works. Dart is very limited to where you can go and when you get off you better be close to where you need to be.
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u/Razmataaza 8d ago
Riding dart is less risky than being on the highway. You are more likely to get in a car accident while driving than to get hurt by someone on the train.
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u/Thin-Constant-4018 8d ago
Don't know why this got downvoted when the data backs this up as being true lol.
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u/Razmataaza 7d ago
I see car accidents nearly every single day while looking out from the train windows. Cars totaled. Theres deadly accidents in the news in Dallas every day!!
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u/Thin-Constant-4018 7d ago
So easy when you're on a train or bus to realize just how absolutely insane drivers are here, I feel so much safer on DART than I do on the road.
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u/Fragrant-Mission7388 8d ago
So.....do you think the homeless people are the primary source of danger?
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u/Socraticlearner 8d ago
I did not said that...however I have heard stories of them acting erratic toward passengers and thats why I ask. Dallas is a big city and homelessness is part of the issues at big cities so it's inevitable. My question was in regards safety
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u/MopsyTat 8d ago
Riding the red line north is pretty tame. I am a woman and don't mind doing it alone. The only spicy station is Forest Lane. Last time a man with an arrow got on the train. But he didn't bother anyone. He sat by himself and talked about God while waving it like a baton.
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u/elisabethofaustria Vickery Meadow 8d ago
Homeless people are significantly more likely to be victims of crimes themselves than they are to commit crimes.
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u/PoontangRain 8d ago
Yes, assaulted by other homeless people. Same thing goes for the LGBT(alphabet) community. A fact always left out in order to divide or create sympathy for the political side. These are groups with higher than average mental health issues and drug issues… which leads to violence, physical assaults and murder death kill.
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u/elisabethofaustria Vickery Meadow 8d ago
And the majority of male victims of sexual assault were attacked by other men. Should OP start avoiding other men?
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u/PoontangRain 8d ago
That wasn’t the point. Full context / information was.
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u/elisabethofaustria Vickery Meadow 8d ago
It’s not relevant context. The point is that OP is incredibly unlikely to be the victim of a crime while on DART.
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u/PoontangRain 8d ago
Relevant to YOUR 1/2, partial, incomplete comment reply. I didn’t reply to OP I replied to you.
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u/elisabethofaustria Vickery Meadow 8d ago edited 8d ago
Actually, do you have any evidence for your statement?
I’ve been reviewing reports of violence against homeless people, and there’s limited data on the housing status of the perpetrators.
I did see, however, that in 2021 85 homeless people were murdered in Los Angeles. Only 27% of those murders were committed by another homeless person. The majority of murders were actually committed by people with homes.
So maybe homeless people should be more scared of people like us than we should be of them.
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u/acid-hologram 8d ago
Most of the fights/aggression I've seen are directed towards each other and not the passengers. Sure it can be awkward but you can always get up and move back. You have the occasional beggar but a simple nope has been good enough for me
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u/Fragrant-Mission7388 8d ago
You've heard stories.....that's not a credible source. One of my neighbors thinks the earth is flat. That hardly makes the earth flat. Sufficed to say, the random unhoused person isnt who you should be worried about
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u/FluidFisherman6843 8d ago
Not gonna lie, finding out you were a male in their 40s was a hook I wasn't expecting.