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To everyone who reads this on the Peninsula, this number should be in your phone's address book: +1 (877) 723-7245. That is the number for Caltrain Transit Pol

To everyone who reads this on the Peninsula, this number should be in your phone's address book: +1 (877) 723-7245. That is the number for Caltrain Transit Police. To everyone who reads this in the City, this number should be in your phone's address book: +1 (415) 553-8090. That is the number for SFPD Dispatch. To everyone who reads this in the City, or the East Bay, this number should be in your phone's address book: +1 (877) 679-7000. That is the number for BART Police. If you see anyone go on to the track—who (for Caltrain) is not crossing and going on their way—you need to call the above number—or 911—immediately. Be sure to provide a location relative to a station (such as "100 feet North of Redwood City station"), or the city name and nearby street. Transit Police in particular, I believe, have a direct link to Caltrain Dispatch, who can make certain signals (normally those near switches/crossovers) fall to red, or at least warn nearby trains. Similarly, when you're standing on a platform, you should not be looking down at your phone. Listening to music, fine, but you should always be looking around. If for no other reason, than so that you can make sure you don't accidentally get bumped by someone else.

jpatokal 8y ago
> You should always be looking around. If for no other reason, than so that you can make sure you don't accidentally get bumped by someone else. You're going to have to explain this one a bit more. (I also take it you've never been on a subway in China.)
- CaliforniaKarl 8y ago
  There have been times when I've been at Palo Alto station, where I'm right next to the yellow bump strip, and had someone rush past me walking on the bump strip. I'm fairly big (wide, not tall), and so that couldn't have been much room. In cases like that, it's good to know someone is coming close past you, so that (if there's room) you can get out of the way. Similarly, looking around will make sure you don't accidentally get in someone else's way. Again, taking Palo Alto as an example, I've seen people step back to make way for someone moving in front of them, only to be walked into by someone walking behind them. >(I also take it you've never been on a subway in China.) I've not, no, so I'd appreciate additional information! I should also clarify, I'm talking about the Bay Area in California, so the behavior of people here will be different.
deleted 8y ago
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always_good 8y ago
Isn't this just a feel-good post? I have no clue what you expect to do with police phone number to prevent train suicide. People don't just camp out on the track for an hour before the train comes. It's a last second ordeal.
- jetrink 8y ago
  From the article: "According to a police report on the death, on the evening of Aug. 11, Davis was walking along the railroad tracks, with his back to an oncoming train, when he turned and faced the train before it hit him. The train engineer considered it a suicide, according to the report." In this incident at least, there might have been enough time to halt trains on that section of the tracks until police arrived. There are signals beside the track and radios in the driver's compartment. This happens semi-regularly in my city. The train operator will come on the PA and announce that we are standing while police attend to a person on the tracks at the next station.

jpatokal 8y ago

> You should always be looking around. If for no other reason, than so that you can make sure you don't accidentally get bumped by someone else. You're going to have to explain this one a bit more. (I also take it you've never been on a subway in China.)

CaliforniaKarl 8y ago
There have been times when I've been at Palo Alto station, where I'm right next to the yellow bump strip, and had someone rush past me walking on the bump strip. I'm fairly big (wide, not tall), and so that couldn't have been much room. In cases like that, it's good to know someone is coming close past you, so that (if there's room) you can get out of the way. Similarly, looking around will make sure you don't accidentally get in someone else's way. Again, taking Palo Alto as an example, I've seen people step back to make way for someone moving in front of them, only to be walked into by someone walking behind them. >(I also take it you've never been on a subway in China.) I've not, no, so I'd appreciate additional information! I should also clarify, I'm talking about the Bay Area in California, so the behavior of people here will be different.

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

always_good 8y ago

Isn't this just a feel-good post? I have no clue what you expect to do with police phone number to prevent train suicide. People don't just camp out on the track for an hour before the train comes. It's a last second ordeal.

jetrink 8y ago
From the article: "According to a police report on the death, on the evening of Aug. 11, Davis was walking along the railroad tracks, with his back to an oncoming train, when he turned and faced the train before it hit him. The train engineer considered it a suicide, according to the report." In this incident at least, there might have been enough time to halt trains on that section of the tracks until police arrived. There are signals beside the track and radios in the driver's compartment. This happens semi-regularly in my city. The train operator will come on the PA and announce that we are standing while police attend to a person on the tracks at the next station.