Editor’s Note: A few days ago, Jessica in Missouri posted a story about a horrible harassment incident that happened to her on a train platform. Then, when she reported it to a guard, he and his friend standing nearby dismissed it, told her it was a compliment, and then the friend of the guard asked her out! She felt forced to take his phone number because she feared he would lash out at her if she didn’t. A few concerned readers contacted the transit authority and Jessica did too. Here is her update:

I would really like to thank the reader who contacted the metro on my behalf and also let everyone know that this situation is being handled now the way it should have been originally. I did in fact talk to the head of security for metro this morning. He took what happened very seriously and apparently there has been a man they have been trying to catch that has done this other times and it may or may not be the same person.

Apparently the head of security is new in his position and really was not aware of certain things that go on like for instance that many of the guards and bus drivers are very flirtatious with some of the women that ride the buses and trains. I have been asked out by a few of them, and “complimented” about things they have no business complimenting about (ex I have nice legs) while they are on their job. He was shocked and appalled and said he would fire whoever behaves that way. It made me wish I had reported things like that long ago but I think until recently I just felt like that’s what you have to put up with if you are female. That incident last weekend was just the straw that broke the camels back for me. I feel more empowered and confident now and I know I don’t have to put up with that kind of disrespect.

It was about 20:45 this evening (9/30/12) and I decided to drive over to the convenient store to pick up some beverages. I go to the store, paid for my purchases and walked out to my minivan.

I got out to my minivan and as I’m turning the corner, a sudden bad feeling came over me. I noticed a truck with some guys sitting in it, windows down (which I found odd, it’s about 45-50 degrees this evening) parked next to my van and the guys were LEERING at me, and making comments about how my car has a Go Army sticker on it. One of the guys said “Oh here she comes.” That there was a little freaky. I pulled my can of mace out of my pocket and carried it in front of me so they could see I was armed (fair warning). I got into the car and they were still talking and leering at me. I turned the key in the ignition and put the van in reverse. To add a little sting I put the high beams on. I drove out of there. I took a different route home. Thankfully this incident didn’t go further than the parking lot.

When I got home I told my mom, who got very worried. I said maybe I should remove my Go Army sticker. My mom said no you worked to get that job you keep that sticker on. I told her while I handled it well and did what the right thing I still felt scared. Tomorrow I’m planning to visit the convenient store to talk with the manager to inform them- maybe they might take a look at the security tapes. But for now, I am going to kick back, enjoy some iced tea and draw.

– Dal

Location: Wilder, VT

I used to run regularly; now I prefer to bike. As a runner, you surely have been harassed while running. There is something about runners and bikers that bothers the physically inert. On the afternoon of Sunday, Sept.30, while I biked on the Little River Turnpike just east of Guinea Road, a scraggly kid riding in a Jeep (my favorite vehicle) hollered, “Get off the road, faggot.”

Had I caught up, I would have asked him who he was telling to get off the road. I was biking according to Virginia law. These streets are mine too.

– John Bartelloni

Location: Little River Turnpike between Prosperty Avenue and Guinea Road, Virginia

Dear dudes working for Governors Island in the Manhattan terminal,

When a lone woman asks you questions related to the ferry schedule and surrounding area it is not an invitation to invite her to hang out and socialize with you. And when she says she’s feeling anti-social, it’s not a reason to lash out at her and tell her she won’t get your help then. When she comes back for the next ferry, that’s not your cue to tease her, announce to the room full of employees that she looks tired, tell the other employees that she cussed you out and argue with her when she says she did no such thing and just wants to be left alone because you’re triggering her PTSD. And finally, when you see her waiting in line clearly upset, that’s not an invitation for you to pull on her clothes and then squeeze her shoulders (thanks for the flashbacks, dude!).

Sincerely,
The woman you harassed today while she was trying to take the ferry for her very last ever visit to her favorite park.

10/2/12 UPDATE from the author of the post: “Elizabeth at the Fund for Governors Island has gotten in touch and gotten the details from me. She let me know they are looking to address this as quickly as possible and they’re taking this seriously. I did ask if these same folks might be working for the Staten Island Ferry (right next door and also a free service) and she wasn’t sure, but she did know they were a security firm, not city employees. So as of right now I feel like this is being dealt with appropriately. I will keep you posted on any progress!”

10/4/12 UPDATE from the author of the post: “**Another update** I got a follow-up call from Elizabeth at the Trust for Governors Island and she let me know that the guys involved in harassing me would no longer be sub-contracting with the ferry service. She also apologized for the incident. So yay, I don’t have to worry about seeing those guys if I ride the ferry again, and my female friends who ride don’t either! I’m so glad I spoke up!”

Sadly this isn’t the first story that I’ve shared on this site but I’m hoping it will be my last. I was riding the train to downtown St. Louis, MO, today to see the All American Rejects perform at The Taste of St. Louis. I was waiting on the train at the landing station and notice this man looking at me up and down and he said, “Damn, how you doin,” or something like that. That was annoying to see him eying me the way he did but annoying or not, I can brush that off, no big deal, but what I can’t brush off is him pulling out his penis and pleasuring himself while watching me.

Yep, ladies, as I was digging through my bag I look behind me and notice this same man pleasuring himself watching me and he said, “Yeah, yeah,” nodding his head as I caught him, as if he was doing nothing wrong. I yelled, “That’s disgusting!” and walked off. That’s when he ran off. There was no security guard there to tell (even though one is always suppose to be there) so I tell a lady there and she is also offended. I get on my train and make sure not to let it run my night.

However, on the way back from the concert I go to another train stop and tell the guard what happened at the landing station. What made me even more mad than the actual perverted event was the guard downplaying it saying that happens all the time and his friend asked how old I was and that if I’m not underage, I shouldn’t be offended and it’s 2012. He implied that I should take it as a compliment and said if I found the guy attractive, I probably wouldn’t be so offended. I tell him that no person that I would find attractive would do that and how would he like it if he had a daughter and some man did that to her.

I also explained to him that as women we are always in vulnerable positions cause we physically aren’t as strong as men and he’s like, “He didn’t touch you though did he”? and I said no but I don’t know what anyone who is disturbed enough to do that would do. It was a total waste of breath trying to explain. Next thing I know this same man arguing with me invites me for a drink. I actually got the creeps from him because I could see him getting angry when I was explaining how I had every right to be offended. Obviously I didn’t go get a drink with him and didn’t give him my number but took his when he insisted. Only reason I took it (then deleted it) was because he gave me the creeps and seemed like he would be the type if I hurt his ego, he may end up getting rough and I could see the guard at the station who was his friend thought this was no big deal so if anything were to happen. I know I wouldn’t have backup.

It’s sad that as a woman I even have to take a guys number that I would never date or call just to make sure I’m not hurting his ego enough to where he would do something crazy if I were to say no to his face. There really needs to be something done about the protection of girls and women that ride public transportation. I am sure any woman who has had to ride it on the regular, has been harassed a time or two at least but we should never be desensitized to it no matter how “normal” it is and its disgusting how easily its dismissed.

– Jessica

Location: Metrolink, downtown St. Louis, MO, USA