Hi folks,
I'm new to biking, considering taking it up to commute to and from work. I live in Cypress (Near Long Beach) and work in Rosemead (near the 605 and 60) and am considering commuting. It's approximately 21 miles round trip, but I can do almost all of it on the San Gabriel River Trail and the last portion (by Whitier Narrows) on the Rio Honda Trail.

I was wondering if anybody had experience with this route. I'm particularly interested in safety, crime, etc on this trail. It seems perfectly safe to me, but it does go through some fairly rough areas (Pico, West Whittier, Santa Fe Springs). I saw this website, where the author seems to think there is a gang probelm on this trail (see http://www.nearfield.com/~dan/sports/bike/river/sg/index.htm ). However, to me simply having graffiti and the presence of homeless people doesn't mean anything dangerous (I grew up in Chicago, in the city).

Anyways, has anyone ridden this trail? Is there anything dangerous to worry about here if I'm commuting daily??

Thanks

W

San Garbriel Trail is fine during the day. I've even ridden during the dark however I wouldn't recommened it if you're a woman.

We ride from the 5 to the beach and back on that trail and never had any reason not to feel safe.

I ride it daily, but not as far up. The Artesia and Alondra underpasses have some homeless that sleep there, but they are not a problem.

Thanks for all the replies.

Anybody have experience with the Downey - Pico/Whittier stretch?

There was a recent thread on this very topic...

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=283822

I was on the trail twice this week from about 7-9AM. It was very pleasant both times with mostly cyclists and a few walkers using the trail. This morning we rode from the Thienes Gateway

http://www.hbteam.org/environmental/thienes_gateway.htm

to Wilderness Park and to the Santa Fe Dam Tuesday (from the same gateway). Wilderness Park in Downey is a good place to stop and use nice, clean public restrooms.

Since the last "mugging on the river trail" thread I actually did meet someone (thirty-something guy) who was jumped by several young guys a couple years back on the Rio Hondo leg near the El Monte Bus Station. They wanted his money.

So, use caution but don't be deterred. Especially since the more people who use the trail the safer it will become.

We saw beautiful Snowy Egrets this morning, galloping horses and some really good-sized fish that looked like carp...