Subway riders taking things into their own hands

It was reported today that Red Line riders who were trapped on the Longfellow Bridge forced open the doors of their car, climbed out, and went on with their day. While there are legitimate safety concerns here, can you really blame them?

First of all, you never know how long you might be stuck on the train in between stations. I remember once being stuck on the Orange Line because some kids were playing on the tracks. We waited for a good half hour before the MBTA police managed to get them off and make sure there was no one else there. I was on my way to the supermarket at Jackson Square and would have definitely taken the opportunity to walk, given that we were only a few yards from the station. I would have been really upset if I had been on my way home from the grocery store.

Given the recent bridge tragedy in Minnesota and recent reports that the Longfellow Bridge is in serious need of immediate repair or replacement, you can understand if people are not feeling up to being trapped in a subway car.

And besides, the weather was nice. It was a good day for a walk.