I'm far less concerned about my safety on the light rail in PDX than I am on the streets. Ten people are slaughtered per week just in Oregon, a substantial increase over just a few years ago. 

Also, the fatal stabbing a few months ago could have been prevented if the Portland cops would have arrested the killer the day before when he assaulted a black woman (who maced him). Unfortunately, the PPB says it won't pursue a potentially dangerous suspect until back-up shows up, so they let him waltz away from his crime and return in a more lethal state of mind. (I have my suspicions that the PPB simply won't take crimes against people of color or cyclists seriously and that's why they let the violent racist go, but that's not an easy case to prove.)