Community Corner
Patch Asks: At What Age Should Our Children Ride The Subway Alone?
The Forest Hills Patch Family Council Weighs wants to know when you let your children ride mass transit on their own.
One of the best things about living in Forest Hills is our accessibility to a variety of subway lines. While many tweens and teens are given the freedom to walk around the neighborhood with a group of friends unchaperoned, at what age would you/do you feel comfortable allowing your children to take the subway with friends, without adult supervision?
I remember when I was first allowed to ride the subway by myself--when I was entering high school. My mom and my best friend's mom took us for a trial trip so that we'd know how to get where we were going — and on that trip some young kids came on the car and pretended to rob people! I'd probably say that 8th grade/high school would be when I'd allow my son to rid the subway unchaperoned. — Kathryn
I don’t have teens or tweens yet, but I think no earlier then 13 years old. I took a city bus around that time on my own. I don’t think taking the subway at night would be allowed until 16. — Rob