I'm surprised no one has yet posted...

[thetreble 19]

I'm not sure if there is a thread on the off topic forum, but as I am sure all of you know, a young man was stabbed and decapitated on a bus from Edmonton to Winnipeg last week.

I feel like this has really affected me because of the years I took the greyhound bus back and forth from many locations. I was often on the bus overnight and this could have happened to any one. Furthermore, it has really made me think of the security situation on buses. They say that bus transportation is the safest transportation in the world, but now that I look back on it, there were a lot of shady people I rode the bus with and took note of. I remember some people taking no belongings on a trip from Ottawa to NYC which was strange. There were even two separate occasions where drivers spotted two men who had knives on them and made them discard their knives before they boarded. Essentially, you can bring anything onto a bus without any one knowing. Your bags aren't checked unless you go through a border crossing.

We put so much into airport security....so why not buses? I realize it wouldn't be cost effective but after the gruesome tragedy last week, we have to do something.

[thetreble 19]

haha I did find the thread on the off topic forum. Sorry guys. Still would like to know what you think if anything.

[Mina76 0]

haha I did find the thread on the off topic forum. Sorry guys. Still would like to know what you think if anything.

You got to be quick around here with these guys!

[MrsCat 6]

I was talking with hubby about this - and I was horrified by two things (1) the randomness of the event and (2) the fact that someone would walk around with a rambo knife.

Hubby didn't think it was strange for someone to walk around with a large knife. He thinks lots of people have them on their person. That scares me. I guess that is how we look at the world differently too. He assumes people have guns or knives on them for protection. I assume people are like me and carry the cell phone with 911 programmed into it for protection. He thinks I'm and I think he's

[L_n_O 3]

I think the bus security needs to get a serious look over!

you can walk away with people's luggage, there are no security protocols... no one checks if anyone's armed, intoxicated, on the run!

it's scary!

I've done lots of 14+ hr bus rides when Oliver and I were long distance (most of them overnight) and it's REALLY FREAKY to realize this happened to some poor kid..

[MissStacey 1]

It is so shocking and horrifying.

[thetreble 19]

I think the bus security needs to get a serious look over!

you can walk away with people's luggage, there are no security protocols... no one checks if anyone's armed, intoxicated, on the run!

it's scary!

I've done lots of 14+ hr bus rides when Oliver and I were long distance (most of them overnight) and it's REALLY FREAKY to realize this happened to some poor kid..

There were many people intoxicated on my bus rides. Luckily some of them were stopped at the border when I was going to the US by bus. As a young girl traveling on my own I really should have traveled during the day and not during the night time. But there were a lot of times where I sort of shook my head at some passengers because they were odd or something didn't feel right.

Also, there have been countless cases of people being on the run from the law and using bus transportation to evade the police because it IS so easy to do so. It just bothers me because Im sure nothing will come of this.

[SapphireDreams 71]

I used to take those long overnight bus rides too and looking back I can't believe I did. There were sooo many shady people on those buses. I used to do the Toronto-Buffalo-Syracuse-Binghamton NY route overnight. I actually was very lucky that nothing happened to me, but in hindsight I think I made some poor choices, I was very lucky that nothing happened to me.

I actually stopped doing it after a really scary night. I was travelling back to Toronto and I had a transfer in Syracuse (I had no choice) and the transfer bus was delayed. So at about 3 a.m. I had to wait almost 2 hours for another bus and we had to wait in the terminal. The security guard was fast asleep and it was basically me and 4-5 other creepy men. I was so vulnerable. One of them came up to me and asked me to for money and I seriously thought that I was going to be in BIG trouble. He ended up being harmless but still SUPER creepy. I never took the greyhound again, and will never take it again ever. I would much rather shell out hundreds of dollars for flight.

[thetreble 19]

I actually stopped doing it after a really scary night. I was travelling back to Toronto and I had a transfer in Syracuse (I had no choice) and the transfer bus was delayed. So at about 3 a.m. I had to wait almost 2 hours for another bus and we had to wait in the terminal. The security guard was fast asleep and it was basically me and 4-5 other creepy men. I was so vulnerable. One of them came up to me and asked me to for money and I seriously thought that I was going to be in BIG trouble. He ended up being harmless but still SUPER creepy. I never took the greyhound again, and will never take it again ever. I would much rather shell out hundreds of dollars for flight.

See that is what I am talking about. I used to either taking the Ottawa Express bus to NYC but more likely Ottawa-Montreal-Plattsburgh-Saratoga Springs-Albany-NY. There were a few times where I would be in Albany at 3am and think I was going to get accosted. I guess I thought I was being independent, when I was just being stupid.

[Carlawarla 1]

I remember as a teen and young adult taking the bus and never gave it a second thought. Heck, I used to hitchhike as well. I'd usually be more concerned about stopping at "3.a.m. in Albany", than being on the bus. I'm sorry this has happened, but to scan everyone everytime the bus would stop? Yes, they do it at airports, not so that you won't stab your fellow passenger though. Heck, you can do that with a whittled toothbrush or empty pen casing. If you're looking specifically at guns say, or knives, you'd have to search everyone at every rest stop along the way as well, not just on the start of a trip.

This incident was a random act of violence. I was attacked once on the street (a random act of violence) while shopping in downtown TO during the day. You're never going to isolate yourself completely from everything.

[Emancipation 2]

This incident was a random act of violence. I was attacked once on the street (a random act of violence) while shopping in downtown TO during the day. You're never going to isolate yourself completely from everything.

hmmmmm it's true.. we once got caught up in a fight between a hot dog vendor and someone who stole something off his cart in TO.. he was literally throwing knives at the guy as he ran past us.. it was random.. RANDOM.. as was this incident. I'm grateful this guy on the bus didn't have a gun.. That's all I can say!

[thetreble 19]

While you have a point about it being random, my experience in taking the bus has not been 100% safe and many others have said the same. Therefore, there has to be SOME kind of security in order. At least taking a look at passengers that are going to board the bus that may seem off colour would be a start. Most of the drivers I had couldn't give two ***** about who the heck was getting on the bus.

Plus, on certain buses there are no stops. Ottawa to NYC was a straight drive. There were no in between pickups. There were also bus rides I had to Montreal from NYC that had no stops.

All I am saying is that while this was a random act of violence, it doesn't mean we shouldn't look into it.

[SpiritAlight 1]

I read the story in the Globe & Mail on Thursday morning I believe.

And I cannot shake it...the feeling is sickening.

It has marred my psyche knowing that people do these kinds of things.

The guy decapitated his victim!!!

Sick truly sick.

I stay away from news usually, and this caught my eye and I picked it up and read it.

Almost threw up.

Bleh.

Not allowing knives does not mean there would be no killing if someone was hell bent on it.

The gruesomeness of this horrific crime is not due to some knife policy; it is an extremely unstable human being that has fallen through society's cracks.

RIP young man.

[*JG* 2]

I'm getting on a bus in November to visit Chicago. This story did not make me feel good about this.

[thetreble 19]

Jomo- you will be fine. This was a one of a kind thing. But do make sure you are aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts.