October 14, 2011
Subway Security A World Away
by Deborah Blass
In the past couple of years, I have visited Tokyo twice on vacation. Among the many cultural differences that made Tokyo feel a world away from home, the extent to which security was integrated into day-to-day life was particularly noticeable. I did a little digging and found that Tokyo actually boasts some of the world's lowest crime rates. As a tourist, the atmosphere of security was most apparent when riding the subway around the Japanese capital city.
Subway rides are a quiet tranquil experience. Riders do not talk on their cell phones, have loud conversations with one another, nor blare music loudly. In addition to making for a very pleasant ride, the quasi-silence also makes it easy to spot something amiss. Beyond the behavior of the riders, various aspects of the subway station and car designs help provide safer environment.
Unlike most subway/metro stations I have observed in the United States, there is at least one subway employee on the platform at all times. This employee is responsible for directing train operators that it is safe to depart. Although this is not the equivalent to the presence of heavy onsite security personnel controlling the station, it is likely to create the impression of security and deter crime and vandalism. Once on the subway, it is evident that aspects the car design was approached with the intent of protecting passengers. All seats run parallel to the length of the car in a bench fashion so that each person sitting has their back to the wall. Additionally, the car's bench seats are constructed with panels that extend from the edge of the seat to the floor of the car. These design aspects help passengers to visually monitor one another and identify dangerous packages.
It was impressive to experience how minimal design considerations could make for a drastically different experience using the Tokyo subway in comparison with those of large American cities such as New York, Washington D.C., and San Francisco. Although enhanced protection may not have been the conscious design intent, the Tokyo subway system left me feeling safe.
November 09, 2011
Thanks for shainrg. Always good to find a real expert.
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