This week, an incident involving an “extremely unsanitary man” on a King County Metro bus in Seattle raised concerns about passenger safety and the lack of support for those in need. Despite the urgency of the situation, no assistance was offered to the individual, and the security measures in place by King County Metro were notably absent.
While commuting to work, I overheard a warning from King County Metro dispatch advising bus drivers against allowing this “extremely unsanitary man” on board. The last sighting of him was reported at Mercer Way and 5th in Seattle. The dispatcher’s tone was urgent, repeating the phrase “extremely unsanitary,” yet no further details were provided, leaving much to the imagination.
In a statement, King County Metro confirmed the disturbance involved a man displaying apparent mental health issues who had left one of their buses in an unsanitary state. However, the absence of any security or police intervention is a significant concern, suggesting that such incidents may persist without proper oversight.
Despite King County Metro’s recent implementation of fare enforcement, it’s unlikely that the individual in question had paid his fare. This raises the question: why wasn’t anyone called to provide assistance? Even if Metro staff were unable to help, the Seattle Police Department could have connected him with the Unified Care Team for necessary support.
This incident highlights yet another missed opportunity to assist someone in urgent need. It also serves as a reminder of the shortcomings in King County Metro’s service, as failing to intervene effectively only sets the stage for similar occurrences in the future.
