What to do if violence breaks out on your train or bus

A recent shooting on an A train in Brooklyn left some subway passengers feeling uneasy and wondering how they would react if such a violent collision occurred in their train car, bus or other mode of public transportation.

Experts say public transportation is not uniquely dangerous, and even in New York City, the perception of subway crime has overshadowed what the actual data reveals.

Still, it can be helpful to know what public safety experts think are the best ways to protect yourself while on public transportation.

Here’s what you need to know.

Be alert to dangerous situations.

Tracy Walder, who has worked for the CIA and FBI, recommends being alert to people who appear to be “extremely anxious,” such as those who cannot sit still and those who engage in verbal intimidation, although she adds that many people who engage in that behavior do not harm others or commit crimes.

“Usually this kind of thing escalates,” she said. “It would start with verbal harassment and then escalate into physical harassment.”

It is also essential to focus on the right factors.

“When you observe your surroundings, don’t judge people by their appearance. Judge them by their behavior,” said Michal Cieslik, chairman of the safety committee of the International Association of Public Transport.

Choosing where to sit and other tips.

Mrs. Walder encourages you to start preparing. She said passengers should always remain awake and alert while on public transport. She also suggests that passengers try to sit in the engineer or conductor cars — usually the first and middle cars of New York City trains — and avoid the doors, because she said transit users are more likely to be harassed in the area.

Wary passengers may also consider avoiding the terminal cars, especially at night, when these areas are less busy and they may want to avoid eye contact with strangers.

“If you hear verbal harassment, don’t talk back because you will escalate the situation 100 percent of the time,” she said.

A lot of train systems have intercoms with which riders can contact the conductor. Passengers can also contact other transit employees or call 911 immediately if they have underground cell service.

When should you pull the emergency brake?

Ms Walder warned against hitting the emergency brakes, especially in big cities, as it can be quicker to get help if you wait until you get to the next stop, get off and then contact emergency services. If you pull the emergency brake, the train may come to a stop in a tunnel and you will have to wait for help.

Consider moving to another car.

If you feel uncomfortable, it may be a good idea to change trains, preferably by waiting at the next stop, Ms. Walder said. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, for example, urges passengers not to drive between moving cars because it can be fatal.

What about open carriages?

Open carriages, or long trains without individual cars, have become the norm worldwide, Mr. Cieslik said. He said the carriages make it easier to escape a situation because there is no door to slow people down.

“You’re much faster at dodging an attack,” he said.

However, the open cart system could also make it “more difficult to control the carnage” in a violent scenario, Ms. Walder said.

Seeked help from bystanders.

What if you are being harassed and no one helps you?

Sometimes people don’t take action because they think others will, says Chandra Bhat, president of the Transportation and Development Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Bystanders may also not realize what is happening.

“One thing is to just be a little loud and ask for help to point out a situation that makes you uncomfortable,” said Mr. Bhat, adding that this also sends a message to the aggressor.

It’s best to be short. “People get a little upset and then start saying too many things that can actually escalate the situation,” he said.

Mr. Cieslik also encourages putting as much distance between yourself and the aggressor as possible, and using your phone to record it.

Knowing when to intervene.

Tsahi Shemesh, the founder and lead instructor of Krav Maga Experts, a New York City-based organization that teaches self-defense classes, said that ultimately “the answer is: do what you can,” adding that not everyone has the same abilities and that every situation is different.

“In fact, if I don’t know what I’m doing, and if I don’t have the authority to stop it, I could just become another victim,” he said, adding that sometimes doing nothing is the best decision if you’re not trained.

But he said that “being unequipped is a dangerous decision,” and that people should learn self-defense.

Polly Hanson, a senior director of the American Public Transportation Association, said: “The decision to intervene in a non-confrontational way is a personal decision and the transit authority will encourage people to report things, not intervene.”

If you witness an attack, Mr Shemesh said it is sometimes helpful to be loud and draw attention to the situation, or check on the victim later, if there is one, to make sure he or she knows someone is watching and cares.

“People tend to do nothing at all when they see an attack,” he said, adding that this is not because they don’t want to help, but “because they don’t know how to help.”

If you are a witness, do you have to make a report?

Passengers are only allowed to record an incident with their phone cameras if they are out of danger. Law enforcement officers have used phone camera footage to secure convictions and map crime scenes, Ms Walder said.

Mr. Bhat noted that people sometimes change their behavior when they know they are on video.

“Sometimes it can be a way to diffuse because most people, once they realize the recording is happening, they start to soften their tone a little bit,” he said.