If you grew up in Queens

Was it totally normal for you to take buses everywhere alone as a young teen?

DD will be 14 in June and got a spot in a summer youth employment program. This is a City program that is done by lottery so she is lucky she got picked.

It is a paid position at a Y and will take 2 buses and 1 hour each way.

She could also apply for retail jobs closer to us (not associated with the youth program) but there are no guarantees she will get a job and then will have nothing to do all summer

Im excited she has this opportunity but just concerned about doing the commute on her own

If you grew up in Queens

I took 2 public buses to high school at that age but I think that may be a little different because there were usually other students on the bus as well. I would also take the bus to the beach but again that would be with a group. For me it would depend on what time she was leaving and coming home but I do think it's pretty normal for kids to take public trans at that age.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

In middle school I took a 15 minute bus ride or would walk 30 min home. In HS at 14 it was a 45 min bus ride and then around 16 it was an hour and half, two buses.

I did the SYEP and we would walk to our jobs but some of my cousins did take the bus. I remember waiting on the long line to apply, I loved having my own money at 14 and it was great to get work exposure.

Message edited 4/12/2017 8:06:49 AM.

If you grew up in Queens

I'd say it's normal. I don't remember if I started in the 8th grade, but by the time I was in high school I was taking the bus.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

I started taking the public bus to school when I started junior high at 11 years old. It was about a fifteen minute ride or so...and once I did that regularly, my mom let me take two buses to get to Queens Center Mall I was going there alone (or sometimes with friends) by 12 years old.

By the time I was 13, I was regularly taking the bus to the subway to go traipse around the city and by 14, I was enrolled in high school in Hell's Kitchen so it was a bus-subway-subway combo every day.

I really enjoyed it. I used the time to read or listen to my Walkman/discman and it taught me a lot about being independent.

If you grew up in Queens

I'd say it's normal, but I also did it in the 90's where lots of things were normal to do!

Message edited 4/12/2017 8:16:14 AM.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

I was taking the bus/train regularly at that age.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

Yes. I began taking public buses in jr high. I even had to trsnsfer getting to and from school so 2 buses each way at 13.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

Re: If you grew up in Queens

i was going to Manhattan to stalk NSYNC @ TRLat 14. To commute to school was at age 12- 2 buses.

Its safe. Im assuming the job ends at 5? Sun is still out. Where in Queens will she be going?

Re: If you grew up in Queens

I live on SI and my son goes to a camp with SYEP counselors and they all hop off the bus.

I think it's ok, and what a great job!

Re: If you grew up in Queens

Re: If you grew up in Queens

Re: If you grew up in Queens

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Re: If you grew up in Queens

Posted by PearlJamChick

I started taking the public bus to school when I started junior high at 11 years old. It was about a fifteen minute ride or so...and once I did that regularly, my mom let me take two buses to get to Queens Center Mall I was going there alone (or sometimes with friends) by 12 years old.

By the time I was 13, I was regularly taking the bus to the subway to go traipse around the city and by 14, I was enrolled in high school in Hell's Kitchen so it was a bus-subway-subway combo every day.

I really enjoyed it. I used the time to read or listen to my Walkman/discman and it taught me a lot about being independent.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

Times have definitely changed so I can see your concern... I took the bus at 7th grade on. Would take it to the mall and the city when I was in H.S. (Junior - Senior). I think it made me more street smart.

If you grew up in Queens

i took two buses to high school

Re: If you grew up in Queens

Yes! I was taking the A train to Rockaway beach on a regular basis by 14 years old. I also took a bus or the train to school daily.

Message edited 4/12/2017 11:49:11 AM.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

I did it mostly from 16-20 but times are very different. I would be fine with my 14 year old doing it, they have smartphones now.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

Posted by LuckyStar

Posted by PearlJamChick

I started taking the public bus to school when I started junior high at 11 years old. It was about a fifteen minute ride or so...and once I did that regularly, my mom let me take two buses to get to Queens Center Mall I was going there alone (or sometimes with friends) by 12 years old.

By the time I was 13, I was regularly taking the bus to the subway to go traipse around the city and by 14, I was enrolled in high school in Hell's Kitchen so it was a bus-subway-subway combo every day.

I really enjoyed it. I used the time to read or listen to my Walkman/discman and it taught me a lot about being independent.

All this. And the bus to Austin st to go to Barnes and noble and LuLus.

So yes, definitely. I took the bus to the subway to get to hs at that age. I wouldn't think twice.

I'm told this is NOT the case on LI and no parent would EVER let their child take any sort of public transportation alone. Better to skateboard along sunrise highway to get where you need to go like the kids I see every day. So much safer

Message edited 4/12/2017 12:46:50 PM.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

Yes taking the buses/subways was a normal thing growing up in Queens in the 90s. I personally didn't very much because my mom was paranoid & didn't let me only under certain circumstances (with a group, etc). I lived close to school for both jr high & hs so it was a very short trip on the bus, or I'd walk or get a ride.

Re: If you grew up in Queens

Posted by PearlJamChick

Posted by LuckyStar

Posted by PearlJamChick

I started taking the public bus to school when I started junior high at 11 years old. It was about a fifteen minute ride or so...and once I did that regularly, my mom let me take two buses to get to Queens Center Mall I was going there alone (or sometimes with friends) by 12 years old.

By the time I was 13, I was regularly taking the bus to the subway to go traipse around the city and by 14, I was enrolled in high school in Hell's Kitchen so it was a bus-subway-subway combo every day.

I really enjoyed it. I used the time to read or listen to my Walkman/discman and it taught me a lot about being independent.

All this. And the bus to Austin st to go to Barnes and noble and LuLus.

So yes, definitely. I took the bus to the subway to get to hs at that age. I wouldn't think twice.

I'm told this is NOT the case on LI and no parent would EVER let their child take any sort of public transportation alone. Better to skateboard along sunrise highway to get where you need to go like the kids I see every day. So much safer

Barnes and Noble, RIP

I work with someone from LI who thinks my upbringing was insane. They just accompanied their TWENTY TWO YEAR OLD SON on job interviews in NYC. (Waited downstairs lol, didn't go in the buildings but still...geez...cut the fkn cord)

Re: If you grew up in Queens

Thanks everyone. I grew up in nassau close to queens border and we took the bus to the mall by 7th grade and I started working by 14 (found jobs on my own)

I think the benefits will outweigh the risk.

She is smart and mature for her age in many ways