Originally Posted by
vortix
MissyH - I live in Cleveland and take the Rapid often. It is generally safe. The cost is $2.25 one-way (with no transfers!) or $5 for an all-day pass. They also sell 5-ride (transfers allowed), weekly, and monthly unlimited passes.
The train is busy during rush hour (7:30AM - 9AM weekday mornings, 4:30PM - 6PM in the evenings), with mostly commuters riding the train during those hours. It also gets plenty of traffic before and after sporting events. If you ride it on a Sunday morning before a Browns game, expect people to be rowdy and likely drunk (but having lots of fun).
The train does go through some lower income neighborhoods, though I wouldn't say they are very dangerous. If you're a single female and want to ride outside of the busy periods, I would recommend sitting in the front train close to the operator. At least if anyone harasses you (which is still pretty unlikely), you'll be within sight of the operator. They also have police officers on the train many times. You should be just fine. Enjoy the ride (if you haven't already)!
Thanks! I have heard different stories from locals. When I mentioned that I wanted to ride the RTA from the Cleveland Clinic area to the airport, many offered to drive me or pay for my taxi ride.(this was around noon on a Tuesday) In the end, one fried refused to let me out of her car and just drove me all the way to the airport.
I'm not sure what all the fuss was all about, but they all tell me that people have been robbed/harassed on the RTA to/from the airport. I kept telling them that I used to live in New York City and rode the subways for 8 years.(is Cleveland more dangerous than Bronx?
)
Oh well. On my next flight into CLE, I'm just gonna hop on the RTA train and ride to Cleveland Clinic, WITHOUT telling anybody I'm on the train!
