Collin County Living Well Magazine November/December 2017 | Page 21

DART Safely
During the
Holidays
T
he holidays are a time for joy
and celebration with family
and friends. It’s also a time
of year when we need to be
more aware of our surround-
ings when we are out and about.
DART Police has a strong presence on
buses and trains, and monitored se-
curity cameras are present at all rail
stations. Recognizing that riders also
play an important role in helping keep
DART safe, the agency has introduced
a new mobile app – DART Say Some-
thing. The app, which is available in
the App Store and on Google Play,
allows people to anonymously and
discretely report incidents on the agen-
cy’s buses and trains.
A drop-down menu allows riders to
select the type of activity they wish to
report, as well as the location. Custom-
ers can submit photos and video, and
there is a notes field that allows them to
type any additional information before
hitting “send report.” Two-way commu-
nication allows police dispatchers to
request further details and allows riders
to respond to alerts they receive.
In addition to using the new app, these
proactive tips will help keep you and
your belongings safe when riding
DART:
1. Plan your trip before you board your bus
or train. Before you head to a stop or
rail platform, know what bus or train you
will be taking and when it is scheduled
to arrive.
DART’s GoPass ® app is a great travel
tool. In addition to purchasing tickets,
the free app allows you to plan your trip,
locate your bus or train, and connect
with Uber or Lyft if you need help cover-
ing that last mile. Download the GoPass
app from the App Store or the Google
Play store.
2. Keep your bags close. Reduce the
chances of theft by keeping your elec-
tronics in your bag and holding onto
your bags while on a train or bus.
This also is good practice when in
other public places.
3. Take precautions when
parking.When parking your
vehicle at a DART station (or
any other public parking area),
remember to always park in
well-lit areas, lock your car,
take your keys and hide valu-
ables from plain view.
The holiday season can
bring out the best and
worst in people. If you see
any suspicious or criminal
activity while on a DART bus or
train, report it to DART Police imme-
diately by calling 214-749-5900 or
911, or by using the new DART Say
Something app. Non-smartphone us-
ers can text information to the system’s
text-a-tip service at 214-256-1819.
Visit DART.org/Safety for more useful
tips. Learn more about the DART Say
Something app at DART.org/riding/
dartpoliceelerts.asp.
COLLIN COUNTY Living Well Magazine | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017
19