Wait for the subway train at a safe distance to avoid falling or being pushed onto the tracks. The station floor by the tracks is usually raised with grooves and is marked with a printed line to tell you where to stand.
Avoid hurting yourself by sitting still once in the car. If you do not have a seat, stand firmly with your feet 12 to 15 inches apart, and hold onto one of the poles.
Refrain from forcing the subway doors to open. You can risk getting your hands caught in the doors if they malfunction.
Carry a purse that has a firm closure to reduce to risk of someone opening it when you are not looking. Instead of holding the purse by the strap or wrapping it around your wrist, hang the strap over one shoulder and across the front of your body diagonally. This can make it harder for a thief to get it away from you.
Place your wallet in your front or jacket pocket rather than in your back pants pocket. A pickpocket can more easily slip a wallet out of a back pocket without anybody noticing it is gone until it's too late.
Avoid wearing expensive jewelry on the subway. If you have wedding or engagement rings with precious stones, turn them so that the gems are on the inside of your hand and not noticeable to the other passengers.
Keep your MP3 player, cell phone or other electronic devices out of sight while you are on the subway. These items are often the object of theft on public transportation. The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) has recommended that owners of MP3 players use aftermarket headphones to make the devices less recognizable (see Resources below).
Protect yourself at night by riding the subway with a friend, if possible. If you must be alone, ride in a car with other people in it to lessen the chances of being accosted. Ride in the front car so that the conductor can see you.
