{"id":382700,"date":"2025-11-16T09:39:45","date_gmt":"2025-11-16T09:39:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/382700\/"},"modified":"2025-11-16T09:39:45","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T09:39:45","slug":"8-best-safety-devices-for-public-transportation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/382700\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Best Safety Devices for Public Transportation"},"content":{"rendered":"

After living in New York City for a decade, it\u2019s safe to say I\u2019ve ridden the subway and the bus a thousand times over. I\u2019ve taken public transport to work, to friends\u2019 apartments, and home from bars in the dead of night. And while you undoubtedly need to keep your wits about you, it would be untrue to say that riding public transportation in New York is a danger in and of itself. That being said, my biggest piece of advice for travelers visiting the city and using the train or buses is to remain vigilant, stay aware of your surroundings, and be smart with your belongings<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re traveling to New York (or really any major city) in the coming months and are feeling worried about riding public transportation, first, take a deep breath\u2014it\u2019ll more than likely be smooth sailing. But if you want to come prepared with some thoughtfully employed safety measures<\/a>, keep reading to find the eight devices and hacks I recommend for traveling stress-free in the city, starting at just $8 at Amazon.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

She\u2019s Birdie The Original Personal Safety Alarm <\/p>\n

Amazon<\/p>\n

Several years ago, my mom gifted me the She\u2019s Birdie Personal Safety Alarm<\/a> for peace of mind during my nights out, commutes, and general travel. Since then, it\u2019s been a mainstay on my keychain. When you pull the pin at the top, the device emits a blaring alarm along with a flashing strobe light that will immediately frighten away would-be threats while drawing attention to your situation. Fortunately, I\u2019ve never had to use it (even after 10 years in New York), but I\u2019m always happy to have it during late night subway rides.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Travelon Anti-theft Classic Messenger Bag <\/p>\n

Amazon<\/p>\n

Theft is always a possibility while traveling\u2014and not just in New York!\u2014 so it\u2019s smart to have a secure bag by your side during your subway journeys. This Travelon Anti-theft Messenger Bag<\/a> can be worn as a crossbody<\/a>, which is a great first line of defense, but it also has locking zippers, an RFID-blocking exterior, and slash-proof strap that will keep your belongings safe and secure on your body. The roomy interior offers plenty of space for everything you might want during a day of exploring the city, and the exterior is fitted with a convenient pocket that\u2019s the perfect size to store a water bottle.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Sabre Pepper Gel <\/p>\n

Amazon<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re flying to New York, it\u2019s important to remember that pepper spray is not TSA-approved. But if you\u2019re driving or taking the train in, you may want to keep this gel option on hand for commuting around the city at night, even just for added assurance of your safety. If you spray traditional pepper spray in an enclosed space, it\u2019ll effectively impact everyone in the vicinity (yes, including yourself), so it\u2019s smart to opt for the more-targeted gel formulation. This top-rated pick from Sabre comes with a hand strap for easy access, and it\u2019s made with UV marking dye. Plus, it\u2019s just $10 right now.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Charmast Portable Charger with Built-in Cables <\/p>\n

Amazon<\/p>\n

Navigating an unfamiliar form of transportation can be daunting, and while it\u2019s important to ensure your eyes aren\u2019t glued to your phone at all times, it\u2019s equally essential to keep your device charged so you can make it where you\u2019re going without losing access to your map. The Charmast Portable Charger with Built-in Cables<\/a> is a T+L editor-loved pick<\/a> that features a handy display at the front to let you know exactly how much battery it has left, and you can even charge up to six devices at once (handy if you\u2019re with a group). It\u2019ll be a game changer throughout your entire trip, but especially useful for traversing the subway system.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Acebon 2-in-1 Emergency Car Escape Tool <\/p>\n

Amazon<\/p>\n

While the subway and the bus are the most popular modes of transportation in New York, if you find yourself calling an Uber to dinner, it\u2019s never a bad idea to have a car-specific safety device on your person. This compact tool doubles as both a window breaker and a seatbelt cutter to help you escape the car in the event of a crash, and since it\u2019ll hardly take up any space in your bag, it\u2019s a no-brainer addition to your packing list. It\u2019s designed to shatter tempered glass in just one strike by targeting the corner of the window, and it\u2019s generally a good idea to keep it on your keychain if you\u2019re in vehicles often.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Venture 4th Travel Money Belt <\/p>\n

Amazon<\/p>\n

Keeping your important travel documents and cash out of view and not easily accessible is good practice while traveling via public transportation in any city, and the best-selling Venture 4th Travel Money Belt<\/a> is an unassuming way to store your essentials while you\u2019re on the go. The slim pouch clips around your waist and can be tucked beneath your shirt, keeping you from looking too much like a tourist, and it\u2019s moisture-wicking and breathable for comfortable full-day wear. If you don\u2019t feel comfortable carrying a bulky purse while you\u2019re out and about, this subtle option is a great alternative.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 <\/p>\n

Amazon<\/p>\n

The best advice I can give for riding the subway is to always stay aware of your surroundings\u2014of course, this is most easily done when you\u2019re not wearing headphones. However, if you insist on listening to music during your commute (and who can blame you), it\u2019s best to opt for a pair of earbuds<\/a> that are subtle and can be used without noise cancellation, so you can still hear what\u2019s going on around you and allows you to appear to be more aware than if you were wearing large headphones.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2<\/a> are T+L editor-loved<\/a> and currently on sale for up to 26 percent off. They boast a snug fit, so you don\u2019t have to worry about them popping out and slipping into the subway grate, and they\u2019re great for listening to music while remaining alert.\n<\/p>\n

Munio Self Defense Keychain <\/p>\n

Amazon<\/p>\n

In the event you need to defend yourself from an attacker on the subway\u2014a rare occurrence, but something worth preparing for nonetheless\u2014the Munio Self Defense Keychain<\/a> will be a worthwhile addition to your packing list since it\u2019s TSA-friendly and incredibly portable. It\u2019s far more durable than the old trick of holding your keys between your knuckles, and it\u2019s non-lethal, so you don\u2019t have to worry about doing major harm. The packable device will provide significant peace of mind, and it\u2019s even earned thousands of five-star ratings from happy shoppers.\n<\/p>\n

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter<\/a> and we\u2019ll send you our favorite travel products each week.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"After living in New York City for a decade, it\u2019s safe to say I\u2019ve ridden the subway and…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":382701,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5122],"tags":[5229,405,403,5226,5225,5228,5227,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-382700","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-new-york","10":"tag-new-york-city","11":"tag-newyork","12":"tag-newyorkcity","13":"tag-ny","14":"tag-nyc","15":"tag-united-states","16":"tag-united-states-of-america","17":"tag-unitedstates","18":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","19":"tag-us","20":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115558715483810560","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/382700","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=382700"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/382700\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/382701"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=382700"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=382700"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=382700"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}