Southern California - Commuting on the Santa Ana River Trail - Safe?

I have decided to start commuting by bike. The most direct and safest route avoiding surface roads is from Costa Mesa to Placentia via the Santa Ana River Trail.

I see no problem with it in the morning, but coming home it is dark. Having ridden the trail on numerous occasions I have noticed the numerous homeless people living under some of the bridges and am a bit concerned about traversing through the area in the dark (I get off at 6:00pm).

I have a touring bike with plenty of lights and flashers so I'm not worried about being seen even on surface roads (we always need to be defensive cyclers!). Just a bit concerned about getting mugged.

Any thoughts and/or suggestions

I would avoid the trail at night. The streets are safer.

Ride with Beanz..
He knows all those on SART that are "housing challenged".

I would avoid the trail at night. The streets are safer.

are there problems with it at night?

Most bike paths have desolate stretches. That tends to draw a certain element. Make your own conclusion.

I prefer the street after dark.

Well my concerns seem to be confirmed. With that.

What surface route would you suggest from S. Kraemer and Chapman to Fairview and Summer for my return trip home.

I would also avoid SART or any other bike trail, for that matter, after dark. I suggest you ride the streets after dark.

Regards,

I would also avoid SART or any other bike trail, for that matter, after dark. I suggest you ride the streets after dark.

Regards,


+1, but I don't think the "challenged" will be your problem. I'd be a bit hesitant sound bound just past the first bridge...

Well my concerns seem to be confirmed. With that.

What surface route would you suggest from S. Kraemer and Chapman to Fairview and Summer for my return trip home.

I'm not in that area or I would help you with route planning. Maybe someone else will chime in...

Welcome back, I believe last time we chatted you were in South OC.

South on Kraemer/Glassell/Grand should be mostly good - but since Grand ends at the 55, it's unclear to me the best way to get over to Fairview in Santa Ana. Maybe Dyer/Barranca to Red Hill to Baker would do the trick, between the South Coast Plaza and John Wayne Airport areas?

Unless you're going to avoid Santa Ana streets altogether, you might as well us the SART. 6 of 1, half a dozen of the other.

Ride with Beanz..
He knows all those on SART that are "housing challenged".


The guys near the Honda Center are no problem at all. Heck, they took some of the pics for us!:D

The bridge just South of Edna park aint all that great though. I've seen some strange things and characters there. A few underpasses from there to the soccer fields are a bit sketchy. Had one guy in broad daylight shove a shopping cart at us on our tandem from the top of a ramp. Wasn't a homeless guy though. Can't figure out why he'd do that other than stupidity, I thought we were distantly related!:p

I'm really shocked it happened. The guy was about 35. He shoved it down as we passed under the bridge then took of running and laughing. Can't maneuver the tandem very well or I'd had given chase and gave the guy a good beotch slapping!:D

Brian and all thanks for the advice.

I have to admit to a large dose of anxiety about doing the "in the dark" thing. Surface streets don't bother me during the day time but much of the route is without bike lanes and well, you know.

Brian - I've moved to TN and back three times in the last year. Hope you are doing well.
Think I'll stick around here for awhile.
The streets of Memphis are far more dangerous than OC.

Maybe your decision to commute can be modified to when the sunlight hours get better. Riding when dark whether on the SART or the streets have their disadvantages.

Really hate to wimp out and wait till Spring.

I have to get on with this as a form of exercise as well as fuel savings. Both a good thing.

So, any suggestions on routing would be appreciated.

So, any suggestions on routing would be appreciated.

As an alternative to riding (outdoors) at night, have you considered a trainer?
During the shorter days of winter (after work), I park it right in front of the tv (usually with hockey on) and spin away.. :beer:

I know you guys mean well, but if I were the OP I would be offended by the alternate suggestions to commuting - after all, he's made it clear that he wants to make it work. He has his reasons - in my case, due to work and family obligations it's either ride to/from work or not have the time to ride at all during the week.

Although north OC isn't considered as "bike-friendly" as south OC, north OC does have the advantage of having a denser grid layout which opens up many possibilities for alternate through routes. I'm sure there's a route out there that will work for him, even if none of us know what it is.

How about ride in the morning and catch the bus at night. I did this awhile back (Long Beach to Orange). Here is the link to OCTA schedules/maps (http://www.octa.net/schedules_maps.aspx). Good luck

First off, I am in no way offended. I am going to be very open and honest here - There is a degree of fear, trepidations, anxiety or what ever you would like to call it. I attempted to commute while in the Memphis, TN area. Between Buba's with big trucks and guns actually trying to score on a bicyclist and an extremely high crime rate (6th most dangerous city in the US. My best friend a Sgt on the PD wouldn't go near downtown with me during the day without a gun. Makes Tijuana look great - no offense intended).

It is only 14 miles each way. As one poster suggested I checked the bus route, which led to a pretty good surface street route - I hope.

So, I sincerely appreciate the input regardless of what camp it comes from. It provides additional food for thought and who knows. I might just learn something!

One last post about Memphis. A young black guy looked at me with a helmet on with a light on the helmet and said: "You must be the PoPo!" Not - poo poo. Anyway, I asked him what he was talking about. He went on to say that only a white guy with a helmet would ride in this area if he were the PoPo.

I found out from my buddy that the young man meant Police. See, learned something in Memphis as well. So, maybe if I wear a shirt blazened with PoPo - Immigration and Idiot all in caps I'll be safe.

Hope I haven't offended anyone here. Just thinking out loud!

Here are a few links that may be helpful to you:

OC Bikeways Map (http://www.octa.net/bikeways_map.aspx)
Bike Metro (http://www.bikemetro.com/)
Franko's Map of Orange County Trails (http://www.frankosmaps.com/Orange_County_Trail_Maps.htm)

It is only 14 miles each way. As one poster suggested I checked the bus route, which led to a pretty good surface street route - I hope.

I've followed bus routes before...that can work out well.

Do you have the Orange County bike map?

http://www.octa.net/bikeways_map.aspx

It will guide you to their opinion of "bike friendly" streets in addition to the bike path.

For me figuring a "good route" is generally trial and error. Do you have a car? You might spend some time driving streets and checking things out that way.

I've ridden SART in the dark plenty. But go fast and if you hear someone, go faster :)

I recently moved to Anaheim (right next to Disneyland) from Huntington Beach. I still work in Huntington Beach and dont think that has stopped me from riding to work as often as I can. I take the SART in the morning to work and home at night when I get off at 6:30. I would not do it without my Niterider Evolution Smart light though. That thing lights up the whole stinking trail. I mount it to my helmet to see around corners and the bridges.

I highly recommend a light like mine or any HID. LED's are ok for street riding where there is other light, but they just dont seem to light up the trail. They seem to go a few feet then they just die off. My Niterider lights the whole trail up and my girlfriend comments that I look like a car when she sees me coming at her.

This should deter most problems and make it much safer for you. It also seems to give me more confidence and am now averaging a full mph faster after starting to use it.