Within a six-month period last year, at least five T riders stumbled off platforms and onto tracks at different Red Line stations. Videos capturing the spills have spread across the Internet, fueled by online viewers’ all-too-human tendency to gawk at others’ bad luck. Other cities shy away from releasing surveillance footage that has the potential to embarrass, unless there’s a compelling reason like needing assistance in solving a crime.
But with all the recent attention given to people who fell or were pushed in front of oncoming trains in New York, the T’s policy is important for public safety. The more people who understand the risks of walking on platforms while distracted — or, worse yet, intoxicated — the fewer accidents there may be. But the videos themselves aren’t enough. Along with those clips, the MBTA should release educational information about how best to help those who have fallen on tracks. For example, many onlookers’ first reaction is to jump onto tracks to help rescue fall victims, or to extend a hand to pull them up. But onlookers should first alert T personnel so that they can send word to nearby trains and shut off power to the electrified third rail. Then, the onlookers should encourage those who have fallen to rush to the end of the platform — away from the direction of any approaching trains — to climb up ladders.
Comments
Why can't the T place barriers up along the platforms, leaving enough openings that when the trains roll up it lines up with openings in those barriers to allow for entrance and exiting from the train.
As long as there is any opening at all there is the risk that someone will fall or be pushed onto the track, and having such partial barriers would perhaps also restrict where someone might get back to the platform after having fallen to the track. There is also the risk that some daredevil would use the barriers for idiotic stunts, including accessing the top of the rail car.
Because the train doors would not align with the openings, due to mechanical failure or poor maintenance, and you would have to climb onto the barrier and jump into the car. This is the MBTA we're talking about here!
Some other systems have implemented what's called platform screen doors, where the whole platform is blocked and automatic doors open when the train arrives. The wikipedia article has lots of pictures of what this looks like. I've seen them at Dulles Airport but they don't seem to be very common in the US. I simply don't like their aesthetic.
Joe Pesaturo needs to think before he speaks. This is the MBTA, by the way. People give up their cars to live in Boston, pay high taxes and use "The T" For transportation. Please address these problems.
Knowing to run away from the train to the ladder at the end of the platform is very valuable knowledge - or to the nearest one. Thank you.
don't be stupid?
The notion that "onlookers" should leave the scene of the incident, abandoning the victim, to go look for an authority figure strikes me as idiotic. Naturally, someone should go for help, but it should be someone who hasn't already found a role assisting the victim. Remember, there's here's a good chance the victim is drunk or on drugs, or, even if sober, may be stunned or injured from the fall. I remember one of these videos where a woman and baby fell onto the tracks and people immediately jumped down and helped her back up. Telling the victim to run down to the far end of the platform may be sound advice, but won't work in every situation.