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However, I believe that this type of search does not violate the Fifth Amendment. Here's why: The police are not stopping people on the street and randomly searching them. The city is saying that as a condition of riding the subway, you might be subject to a bag search. If someone doesn't consent to the search, they are free to do two things: leave their bag at home, or not ride the subway. That is not a violation of the Constitution.

Let's take this out to it's logical conclusion then.

Bombs in London on mass transit. New York, Washington, etc. say (to quote your words) "as a condition of riding the subway, you might be subject to a bag search. If someone doesn't consent to the search, they are free to do two things: leave their bag at home, or not ride the subway"

Now no Americans have been killed by the bombs in London, but we've had many Americans (soldiers) killed by car & truck bombs in Iraq.

What if some cities said (to use your words, only replacing a few words - bolded):

"as a condition of using the roads, you might be subject to an automobile search. If someone doesn't consent to the search, they are free to do two things: leave their car at home, or not use the roads"

Puts a twist on things, doesn't it.