Security Blanket
Posted by Fred Jandt
Editor, Mass Transit
While I was away for business last week my wife thought she heard a noise downstairs. Since the kids were already in bed with her, she understandably got nervous. So she slept with a flashlight and the phone next to her until I got home.
Now the flashlight and phone really didn’t provide her much extra security, but the thought of having them there made her feel better. This week King County Metro fired eight security guards who had past criminal records. The off-duty police officers who normally provide security for the service were up in arms. How could this happen?! The riders — not so much. One rider even said the security guards seemed approachable and that he didn’t feel frightened. I guess for transit it’s more about having security than being secure.
This got me to thinking about my last business trip. Going through an airport is such a chore these days. You practically have to strip down to get through security. You have take off your watch, coat, belt, shoes and pretty much everything else. The last time I went on a train, I stood on the platform reading my newspaper until the train arrived and then walked on board with my coffee in my hand.
Now here’s the interesting thing for me. Transit agencies have been fighting for riders for … well, ever. And to be honest, they’re winning that fight. 11 billion trips a year is pretty impressive. But it is interesting to note that a recent Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) report stated that transit agencies fight increasing security versus increasing hassling riders and/or delaying buses and trains.
When was the last time the airline industry worried about balancing ridership hassles against security? Every security measure in an airport, at least from what I have seen, is stated as being a necessary measure based on past events. We take off our shoes because someone put a bomb in theirs. We have to bag our liquids and not take anything liquid through security because of a plot to mix chemicals on a plane.
The thing here is that is this level of security making us safe? Sure, but more importantly it is making us feel safe. As the MTI report states, security for the transportation industry all changed on 9/11. With the level of that attack on airlines it’s no wonder the government threw a ton of money for increased security.
But there’s the thing, transit handles more people every morning than airports due in several days for a minute fraction of the funding they have on security. And transit does it with an open system. You can’t protect all of those bus stops and rail lines all of the time.
And yet, a massive amount of money goes to airports to make people safe — or is it feel safe. The thing about handing someone a security blanket is that you have to be careful not to throw it over his or her head in the process.
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March 1st, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Let’s see… The message one gets is that we don’t want convicted troublemakers who have served their time and released, to watch out for troublemakers. Not knowing the beef, (maybe hijacking buses..) one can’t prejudge the firings. Still, we’d like to know more, Mr. Jandt. Should we feel safer in the terminal toilets than on the plane or train?
The hapless airport security guard who noted x-rays revealing box cutters in a couple of passengers’ respective carry-on luggage, letting them board with their blades, a few years back… undoubtedly had a “clean” record to qualify for baggage check/boarding inpector’s job. Followed policy. Promote him!
At Tahoe Airport, going way back to the first Gulf War, our Airport Director had a different policy for x-ray attendants: Maybe it’s LEGAL, but if an item is sharp or can cut, or be weaponized, separate the items from the carry-on, bag & tag it, and put in the hold, with the checked baggage. The Tahoe Airport Director followed the rules; the grey area apple corers & boxcutters etc. arrived at the destination airport with the owners, not in downtown skyscraper USA.
There is no substitute for wise and alert employees, willing to take the initiative when something comes to their attention. Particularly, no substitute for wise leadership. Too bad the Tahoe Airport’s practice wasn’t in place in every city on the morning of 911DAY.
Walk thru X-ray will may not ever be deployed at all transit boarding points, but portable units & random checks may be a deterrent. Some commentators say we should fear the aftermath, more than the event. No telling what we will be reduced to when bureacracy deals with disasters after the fact! See thru plastic garments to qualify for express lines?? NO carry-on? Remote check-in & retrieval for luggage is a possibility -already the rule in Europe- -At the hotel, not the station.
Maybe prison-tough security people, -properly vetted- makes a good pool of security employees for transit. We have 100s of thousands of citizens in prison. We have to find gainful employment for them when they come out. Seems some percentage of ex-cons can be put to work helping to guard trains & riders. Rehab of dormant rail lines with actual convicts comes to mind too, but that is another part of the Peak Oil story.