Metro’s safety problems are serious, but as BeyondDC noted last year the statistics show it is still overwhelmingly more safe than driving. Statistics don’t tell the whole story, though. They don’t account for things like this:

“My name is Penny Everline. I live in Arlington. I cannot drive due to a visual impairment, and I ride ART and Metro bus and rail to work, to shopping, to appointments, to classes, and to social activities. I grew up in a small town with no transit and moved to the DC Metro region as an adult. I know it sounds corny, but I believe transit saved my life… or at least helped me get a life.

“Before I had access to transit, I wondered how I would be able to do the basic things—go to work, pay my rent, go shopping, meet up with friends, etc. Now I do all of these things with great ease. I can honestly say that Metro and the other transit providers in our region opened doors for me and, hopefully, will continue to do so.”

Penny is a member of WMATA’s Riders Advisory Council. She started SaveMyTransit.org to provide a place for people to tell their stories, so our elected officials know just how important it is to have reliable, safe transit.

If you have a story to tell, give her site a visit and put it on the record.