Living Car Free - How do you handle major roads in the ghetto?

So im currently living car-free due to finances and cars are rather far down on my priority list compared to bikes... (i just bought a colnago which could have easily financed a beater car... god**** impulse purchases) I live in atlanta, and sometimes if i go over to peoples houses for a get-together or something. I often have to take main roads that are ghetto and very speedy. I often find myself avoiding going to alot of places and events because i don't feel like getting jacked, or hit. That being said, im pretty scrawny at 5'9" and 130lbs.

Anybody else face these issues in their life?

HTFU and pedal faster!

To be serious, here in southern MN we don't have a lot of sketchy areas, and I don't know what Atlanta is like, but if you can stay in public areas you might be alright. Maybe look for alternate routes that are a little longer but avoid those ghetto roads. Or try to convince a friend to go with you, safety in numbers -- or you'll both get jacked but then you won't have to walk home alone.

You are riding a Colnago into what you consider a sketchy neighborhood?

My suggestion is that you get a bicycle that wouldn't set you back $3000 if it was stolen. Something that won't draw a huge amount of attention. Get a good lock too.

Take public transportation and/or a cab

I work in da 'hood. Commute there every day and back every night, by a half-dozen different routes.

I've never had an issue. I ride with confidence and like I'm minding my own business. The bad dudes can smell fear, and you don't really want to get involved an anyone's business.

I also ride like I'm not looking for anything, because I'm not. White guys looking for drugs, sex, guns, or whatever are fair game, target wise. There's no distinction between customer and target. Some guy riding through on a bike, not so much, especially if by your attitude you put out that you're not interested. Eyes on the road, not scoping the place out, and I'm usually in full roadie kit*, so that makes the statement for me.

"Corner boys" sometimes make comments if I hit the light at their corner, but it's generally banter rather than threat. I'll banter back in a friendly way. If they start a sales pitch, I shut it down quickly and firmly, but politely and with respect. The slightest whiff of your being judgmental or disrespectful will bring trouble PDQ. "Sir" helps a lot.

Based on my experience, I disagree with gerv. My Litespeed Classic is practically invisible in da 'hood. Nobody knows what it is. I've never had a remark about it. My bottom-of-the-line 13-year-old Trek 1000, which I bought used for $100—now that bike draws attention. I get "Nice bike!" all the time. Why? Then know what a Trek is. They don't know that it was the low-end model, or that it's an 8-speed Sora triple, all they know is that it's a Trek, and as the cliché goes on another forum, "Trek makes nice bikes".

Colnago they probably don't know any more than they know my Litespeed. Of course, the Litespeed is bare titanium, not a flashy paint job either.

*Full roadie kit for me means hi-vis and black, not team colors. AFAIK, no gang in any hood anywhere has hi-vis as one of their colors. Avoid red and blue.

In Fort Worth, there's barrio and there's ghetto. The barrio I'm pretty much okay with. I greet those I make eye contact with, maybe ring my bell (as dorky as that sounds, it really disarms people and they drop the attitude). The ghetto.... the biggest thing I worry about is the loose dogs. I don't frequent the ghetto, but when I do, I try to avoid any street where I see loose dogs of any size; I'll jog over a block, or cross the street or something.

I haven't had too many problems, even though I get out of work at 2330 and my workplace is in a so-called ghetto neighborhood. For s couple years I rode right through an open air drug market and never had a problem. At first they thought I was a cop because of my lights, then they started teasing me for a while, and finally they got used to me and just ignored me. I had a few impromptu races with some of the young kids who were riding around late at night.

A couple years ago, two young guys--one on foot and one on a trek MTB--tried to jack my bike. The one on foot lunged out at me from the shadows, but my paranoid instincts paid off and he just grabbed air. The guy on the bike chased me for a few blocks, but gave up when we got to a little hill. I felt pretty good that I could outsprint and outclimb a guy who was 30 years younger than me (and more than 30 pounds lighter), on the same kind of bike!

I pretty much agree with what tsl said. Especially about MTBs and even cruisers being very desirable in inner city neighborhoods. For low income people, "Walmart makes nice bikes." ;) I had a cheapish Trek MTB stolen once, and the thief left behind a nice old Fuji that was easily worth twice as much.

Get a beater bike. Ride fast. Don't wear spandex.

In general, if you ride a bike and aren't dressed rich, people leave you alone. Be friendly in any conversations. And no, you don't need them to hold your bike for you. Ride your bike ? Another time.

In many years of riding in bad neighborhoods, I've had trouble only twice. 1) Riding on a new touring bike, I got bikejacked by two gangs at once. 2) In the original home neighborhood of MS 13 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mara_Salvatrucha)where a guy on a Stingray passed me on a hill where I didn't have a gear advantage and pushed my front tire with his rear tire. When I dusted off and attempted to pass him, he strong-armed me into traffic and we both nearly got run over by a van when my rear rim tacoed from the force of his push.

But in general, I find that by in large the biggest danger is the danger everywhere. Cars and drivers in their own little worlds.

One time I got a flat at what I considered to be a very bad corner. As I was sitting in the McDonalds/Gas Station parking lot patching the flat, someone came up and offered me a $20.00 bill. I guess he saw me looking for napkins in the trash can so I wouldn't get my hands dirty with the greasy chain.

My bike draws a big attention. you can see it below, click the the youtube URL.

A couple of times I heard a bunch of guys say "Hey I want that bike, Come over here" and I just threw it into my top gear and took off, I was doing 22mph! LOL

They didn't know what to do, and when I was at a safe distance I blew off my air horn! LOL

Looking homeless helps... :)

I live close to the downtown core and things are a little rough about 8-10 blocks east of me and have had people try and roll me... I make it a point to stay on main roads where it is harder to be ambushed for profit, simple sport, or mistaken identity.

If you ask my daughter what "Trek" means she will tell you it translates to "steal me".

I've never had an issue. I've had some overly-talkative folks try to keep a long-running conversation. It ends when the light turns green.

My bikes don't scream "steal me". They're also "weird bikes" to most folks. Big Dummy and LHT have muted colors and lots of bags. Dahon just looks silly. The recumbent? Nobody knows what it is. My single-speed is an old Raleigh conversion that's been powdercoated grey, and it's got pink bar-tape. :)

I wouldn't necessarily ride in "those" parts of town on a Friday or Saturday night, but other than that, I don't worry about it.

Be and look alert, make eye contact. Don't listen to music or chat on your phone. My father is ex-special forces and taught me that being able to hear is basic self-defense, don't handicap yourself with earphones. Be friendly but don't trust strangers. Avoid brand names. Stay in well lit areas and avoid areas that are hard to maneuver in like alleyways.

Most thieves are opportunists looking for easy targets, don't be an easy target.

Be and look alert, make eye contact. Don't listen to music or chat on your phone. My father is ex-special forces and taught me that being able to hear is basic self-defense, don't handicap yourself with earphones. Be friendly but don't trust strangers. Avoid brand names. Stay in well lit areas and avoid areas that are hard to maneuver in like alleyways.

Most thieves are opportunists looking for easy targets, don't be an easy target.

This is so right. Most people are accomplices to their own muggings.

Don't let any stranger get close to you--especially if they are overly friendly, or ordering you around. If somebody tries to stand close to you, discreetly (politely) back away. Tell them you don't have a square or some change, or whatever it is they're asking for. If they continue to get close, tell them firmly, "PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM ME!" Maybe they'll think you're crazy, but so what? They can't grab you if they never get in arm's length.

If they continue to get close, either take off or punch them first and then take off. (Your call.) If somebody invades your space after you tell them not to, they are either a criminal, intoxicated, or mentally ill--or possibly all three! Everybody over the age of 7 understands this in a tough neighborhood.

At the same time, remember that even in "bad" neighborhoods, 98% of the people are good people. There are just as many bad people in a good neighborhood, but they're doing white collar crimes that the cops don't care about.

My mother used to live in a bad neighborhood and it was actully safe to ride my bike there then drive. Driving ment having to park and walk the streets but with a bike, I could just stop at her apartment.

Here's my advice. Avoid getting stopped at a red light especially if there are kids or men at the corner. I will time the light if I see people standing by corner even if it means stopping in the middle of a street. If you see a gang of kids going down the block, take another route. Try to ride in the middle of the street but that requires you to know where the traffic stands behind. A rear view mirror is very valuable for this type of riding.

Overall, riding in bad neighborhoods is overrated.

My mother used to live in a bad neighborhood and it was actully safe to ride my bike there then drive. Driving ment having to park and walk the streets but with a bike, I could just stop at her apartment.

Here's my advice. Avoid getting stopped at a red light especially if there are kids or men at the corner. I will time the light if I see people standing by corner even if it means stopping in the middle of a street. If you see a gang of kids going down the block, take another route. Try to ride in the middle of the street but that requires you to know where the traffic stands behind. A rear view mirror is very valuable for this type of riding.

Overall, riding in bad neighborhoods is overrated.

I think you're right. The incident where I was almost bikejacked occurred in an alley behind a liquor store. Stupid route selection--but I always took the alley for a block to avoid the one-way street, or I would have had to go the wrong way, or go a couple blocks out of my way.

So route selection is important, and don't take stupid short cuts.

Thanks for all the advice!! They help out a lot actually. And no I don't ride the aforementioned colnago for these kinds of rides... My beater is a general steel frame fixed gear from the bike boom era-- solid hi-ten--with velocity deep v's. Nothing flashy at all.



You are riding a Colnago into what you consider a sketchy neighborhood?

My suggestion is that you get a bicycle that wouldn't set you back $3000 if it was stolen. Something that won't draw a huge amount of attention. Get a good lock too.

I'd never leave this bike locked up. It goes where I go! And its a late 90's tecnos. Cost me 1K.

Thanks for all the advice!! They help out a lot actually. And no I don't ride the aforementioned colnago for these kinds of rides... My beater is a general steel frame fixed gear from the bike boom era-- solid hi-ten--with velocity deep v's. Nothing flashy at all.




I'd never leave this bike locked up. It goes where I go! And its a late 90's tecnos. Cost me 1K.

For prevention of theft by ghetto amateurs (as opposed to "professional" bike thieves), I think an old 10 speed is usually your best bet. Drop bars are an acquired taste, and most every day cyclists in the inner city haven't acquired it. I had four unlocked bikes in my basement, and my downstairs neighbor (17 year old inner city kid) chose to "borrow" an old MTB with a broken pedal rather than the pricier drop bar bikes that were right next to it.

But professional thieves might like a classic 10 speed--especially if you live in an area where fixed gear bikes are popular.

I have two advantages you don't (not bragging, just saying):

1. I'm 6'1", 230+, and not tubby. I also look kinda mean. (people think I'm mad or frowning -- it's just my face!)
2. Ghetto folks think I'm po-po. (Who else would ride so self-assured through THEIR 'hood?)

With a Moving Van ..

wrap the frame in something non-adhesive.

With a Moving Van ..

This. After reading through this thread, I'm so glad that I live in Denver. If the neighborhoods are so bad that you are worried about being a victim of a violent crime, you really should move to a nicer city. I don't think I could find a neighborhood that I wouldnt feel comfortable riding through if I tried.

This. After reading through this thread, I'm so glad that I live in Denver. If the neighborhoods are so bad that you are worried about being a victim of a violent crime, you really should move to a nicer city. I don't think I could find a neighborhood that I wouldnt feel comfortable riding through if I tried.
I always thought Denver has a fairly high crime rate.
(http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/co/denver/crime/)

We dont have neighborhoods that are bad to the point where you wouldnt ride through them.

We dont have neighborhoods that are bad to the point where you wouldnt ride through them.

Don't think it can't happen to you in Denver neighborhoods, just last week we had a guy "stabbed" cause they wanted his "bicycle"! :O Then to add insult to injury, they took his wallet too. My wife commutes in the same area, we just picked up a old "beater mtb" for her to ride, hoping that IF she does get stopped, they'll think, "what a pile" and move on. At least, if she has to give up the bike, we won't be hurt financially. Their out there, everywhere, we live in Colorado Springs, which has a much less crime rate than Denver Metro!

Looking homeless helps... :)

I live close to the downtown core and things are a little rough about 8-10 blocks east of me and have had people try and roll me... I make it a point to stay on main roads where it is harder to be ambushed for profit, simple sport, or mistaken identity.

If you ask my daughter what "Trek" means she will tell you it translates to "steal me".

Bolding mine.

I disagree. Looking homeless is dangerous. It says "won't be missed". Though it does have advantages. It also says 'not much to steal'.

Looking one step up from homeless is a lot better, still says not much to steal.

Looking like a homeless person going to whereever they sleep after a day of begging is perhaos the worst thing one can put out there. Has cash, won't be missed.

Bolding mine.

I disagree. Looking homeless is dangerous. It says "won't be missed". Though it does have advantages. It also says 'not much to steal'.

Looking one step up from homeless is a lot better, still says not much to steal.

Looking like a homeless person going to whereever they sleep after a day of begging is perhaos the worst thing one can put out there. Has cash, won't be missed.

IMO, to look one step up from a homeless person, where a helmet. It communicates that someone will miss you.

In Miami I have been yelled at, and had bottles thrown at me. Needless to say, I changed my commuting route to avoid the nastier areas, and I carried a small handgun. Another concern about riding in bad places is that drivers are often unlicensed, uninsured, and reckless, leaving you screwed if you get hit. My brother was hit and killed by an unlicensed and uninsured driver in North Miami. Avoid the barrio, ghetto, or 'hood if you can,

(sigh)

Threads like this sadden me.

When I first moved to Houston from a very rural area I used the bicycle to commute to work (20 miles round trip). To get there I had to drive through a pretty impoverished, mostly minority neighborhood. For you Houstonians, it was down Calvalcade through the 5th ward. I just peddled through and if anyone looked my way I just smiled and waved - or said "Hullo!" as I breezed past if they were within speaking distance.

Never had a problem. In fact, most people waved back, or returned my greeting as I went by.

At the time most people I knew said "Aren't you afraid of riding through there?" I would always tell them no, because as the bike shop guy said, once you knock me down to try to steal my bike you now have to deal with "REALLY big pissed off bicycle guy".

Now I'm married and living in Acres Homes - a predominantly black neighborhood. I'll wager I'm the only white guy that lives within a radius of ten city blocks. I know I've not met another one. People say to me all the time "why the heck do you live up there?" Fact is that my wife grew up in that house and she inherited it from her parents when they passed away. Why pay rent or a mortgage if you don't have to?

The biggest problem I've had is with burglars. If an item of value is not secured it will disappear eventually - but that's the case in just about any neighborhood in the city.

I've ridden all through my neighborhood, and the closest I've come to any illegal behavior is when some "working girl" propositions me.

I also ride a Trek.

Here's what I found:

If I simply pedal my way down the street like I would on any other street I never have a problem. If I treat other people with respect and decency, they generally respond in kind.

Sure, there are bad guys out there and if you live in the big city you have to be aware of that and be wary. However, that's true of any part of the city, not necessarily only in the ghetto.

IMO, to look one step up from a homeless person, where a helmet. It communicates that someone will miss you.

A wedding ring might have the same effect... (Get a cheap one from a Cracker Jack box if you aren't actually married...)

(sigh)

Threads like this sadden me. (snip)

Yeah. I've lived in some minority neighborhoods, and it was safer for me to wander around than most of my neighbors. Everyone knows a white girl being messed with will bring a police crackdown/be all over the media/make life harder for everyone/etc. If one of my black or hispanic friends was murdered it would be written off as "gang violence" (because people of color in poor areas are ALWAYS gang members, doncha know /sarcasm) with no attention paid to it at all.

The areas *I* have always been nervous going through are around colleges. Lots of privileged kids who think they are the center of the universe. Now *thats* scary.

So im currently living car-free due to finances and cars are rather far down on my priority list compared to bikes... (i just bought a colnago which could have easily financed a beater car... god**** impulse purchases) I live in atlanta, and sometimes if i go over to peoples houses for a get-together or something. I often have to take main roads that are ghetto and very speedy. I often find myself avoiding going to alot of places and events because i don't feel like getting jacked, or hit. That being said, im pretty scrawny at 5'9" and 130lbs.

Anybody else face these issues in their life?

I grew up here in Atlanta, and chances are I'm probably very familiar with the area you're talking about, as I grew up in "the hood". Really you'll be fine riding through on a bike. They aren't concerned with taking your bike or anything like that. Robbery is always a possibility however. It all depends on how you look to them. If you look like you're worried about being in the area you're in, then you make the perfect target. They will always look for something that doesn't belong. In this case, that something is you. If you don't seem comfortable, anybody that's watching you is going to know it. As bad as it sounds, if you're white, you're already at a disadvantage because you're going to stand out. Everyone always notices the white guy that passes through. Everyone wants to know who he is and what he's doing there. Don't look lost, don't look like a tourist, and don't look afraid. Mind your own business and keep it moving and you'll be fine. Don't stare people down, don't watch people, or make them think you're watching them. Again, mind your own business. If you look for trouble, you will most certainly find it. Keep in mind, for the most part, they don't want any trouble either. They have their own things going on, and the last thing they want is a visit from the police...so chances are if you keep to yourself and keep it moving, you'll be fine.

Yeah. I've lived in some minority neighborhoods, and it was safer for me to wander around than most of my neighbors. Everyone knows a white girl being messed with will bring a police crackdown/be all over the media/make life harder for everyone/etc. If one of my black or hispanic friends was murdered it would be written off as "gang violence" (because people of color in poor areas are ALWAYS gang members, doncha know /sarcasm) with no attention paid to it at all.

The areas *I* have always been nervous going through are around colleges. Lots of privileged kids who think they are the center of the universe. Now *thats* scary.

This is all you have to remember. When I first moved to Chicago, I did some volunteer work in a really rough neighborhood. And this was before I had a bike, and would walk the 5-6 blocks from the train to the school. Never had a single problem. Sad as it is, gangs and drug dealers know they can operate with little police interference as long as they aren't messing with "normal" citizens. So why bring unnecessary police attention just to mess with somebody on a bicycle.

Call me naive, but I honestly believe that cities, even ghettos, are no safer or more dangerous than anywhere else, and that the bad neighborhoods catch a bad rap. I used to listen to people from the suburbs tell some crazy stories about bad experiences in the city, and most of the time I could tell they were hugely exaggerated retellings of stories they were told from someone who heard it from someone who...

That said, of course you shouldn't take unnecessary risks. Know which streets are well-lit, and which aren't. Know of a place close by you could escape to if you needed to quickly get to a populated, well lit area. If you get a flat, and don't feel comfortable fixing it right there, keep riding til you get somewhere else if possible. And don't be afraid to run a light or stop sign if you don't feel comfortable stopping.

(sigh)

Threads like this sadden me.

When I first moved to Houston (snip)

Here's what I found:

If I simply pedal my way down the street like I would on any other street I never have a problem. If I treat other people with respect and decency, they generally respond in kind.

Sure, there are bad guys out there and if you live in the big city you have to be aware of that and be wary. However, that's true of any part of the city, not necessarily only in the ghetto.

Exactly right. I'm white, I live in Houston and I work in the near north side which is "ghetto" to a depressingly large number of my friends. I also ride all over town on our extensive trails and paths network which takes me through lots of so-called "rough" places. There's no problem here. The non-white people don't want to kill you, OK? They're just people doing their own thing - why do you think they care about you?

The biggest trouble I have is when I get to the "nice" neighborhoods, as those residents are Very Important People who must get their BMWs and Mercedes to the next light Immediately. Self-appointed big shots, bleh....

Don't mean to sound negative but get some friends in a different part of the city. Most of what I've read sounds like it's from victims who just haven't been victimized yet. You might want to keep in mind 4 S's: Don't go to Stupid Places, with Stupid People, Doing Stupid Things, at Stupid Times. Going into the hood at night on a bike is covered by at least 3 of those things, only because I don't know your friends. If you do go just expect bad things to happen.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2024743/As-video-assault-emerges-flash-mob-race-attacks-spread-cities-Incidents-investigated-LA-Chigaco.html

Don't mean to sound negative but get some friends in a different part of the city. Most of what I've read sounds like it's from victims who just haven't been victimized yet. You might want to keep in mind 4 S's: Don't go to Stupid Places, with Stupid People, Doing Stupid Things, at Stupid Times. Going into the hood at night on a bike is covered by at least 3 of those things, only because I don't know your friends. If you do go just expect bad things to happen.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2024743/As-video-assault-emerges-flash-mob-race-attacks-spread-cities-Incidents-investigated-LA-Chigaco.html

Wow.

I guess I'd better not ride my bike in my own neighborhood after dark.

:rolleyes:

If my house is being burgled, or I worry it might be......yeah, I'd move.

If my house is being burgled, or I worry it might be......yeah, I'd move.

My house was burgled. It sucked.

However, burglary seems to go on all over this city (Houston). I know a guy that lives in a "nice" neighborhood and his house has been burgled three times. I have a client that lives in a pricey part of town and he's got more security devices on his house than I could believe. His house was burglarized as well.

That's life in the big city.

That's why I'd love to move to the country. My wife doesn't want to leave her job. She's been there for 20 years.

I don't want to leave my wife. (shrug)

Why not carry some protection? (No, I don't mean rubbers)

My house was burgled. It sucked.

However, burglary seems to go on all over this city (Houston). I know a guy that lives in a "nice" neighborhood and his house has been burgled three times. I have a client that lives in a pricey part of town and he's got more security devices on his house than I could believe. His house was burglarized as well.

That's life in the big city.

That's why I'd love to move to the country. My wife doesn't want to leave her job. She's been there for 20 years.

I don't want to leave my wife. (shrug)

I dunno what it is with houston, but its full of people who love to steal... I spent 12 years up on the east coast and my car got broken into twice. I had something stolen, broken into, bashed, keyed, razored at lest every 3 months living in houston - whether it was up north in spring or downtown in shepard street or over by the galleria or way outside the loop. Someone even broke into my car while i was at the downtown library and the icing on the cake was paying 175 bucks to get it out of impound because it looked abandoned and having to get a ride home.

I understand what some are saying about a means of self defense, and I'm actually ok with it. I think wisdom and judgement are the first line of defense. One guy put it well who said "don't go anyplace with a gun that you wouldn't also go without a gun". That's really where the 4 s's come in. Look at George Zimmerman, alive yes, but his life is now ruined. I don't really buy into the "look tough" thing. I do believe in not looking like a victim, but generally those looking to do others harm do not have the same values or conscience that most of society has and what we think of as looking tough they just doesn't register on them.

I also understand the whole "family house" thing, but if the neighborhood isn't safe, it's not worth it; my opinion. Yours may differ. When I bought a house the first requirement was that I would be comfortable with my wife walking a dog in the neighborhood near dark alone. That was the only absolute. YMMV.

My biggest security concern == 40 mph automobiles that don't see bicycles.

If you're worried about threats that are on foot while you're on your bike, there's bear mace. But be very certain that if you were to ever use it that it is in fact a real threat. I figure if I ever am in danger that may be one of the few routes I'd take, while giving them a severe beating and yelling to never let me catch them running the streets like fools. Or maybe even if they've been disabled well enough or you have complete control of the situation, call the police and have them come pick up the dirt bags. If any of you were to do this in a semi dangerous area, you may want to consider taking a different route for quite some time just in case they have revenge on their mind.

Edit: Also wanted to add that if you don't have bear mace you could always use your bike as a weapon in self defense.

I dislike strongly when people get it on with the hate crime statues. I mean, that's just some f'd up art man.. no need to go grinding on it and making the statues feel all kinds of abused and dirty.



'They were targeting anyone who was white or appeared to look white. We are actively looking at violations of hate crime statues in Wisconsin,'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2024743/As-video-assault-emerges-flash-mob-race-attacks-spread-cities-Incidents-investigated-LA-Chigaco.html

My thinking has always been, "ride and look like you belong there." Maybe it's because I'm a Filipino and mix with everyone, but to me, social camouflage works wonders.

If you're lost in a bad neighborhood, don't dart your eyes around and look like you're lost, don't gawk at anything: put a location in mind, about five miles down the road and bike like you have somewhere to go, and you know exactly where you're going.

Then start pedaling like hell.

Maybe it's because I'm a Filipino and mix with everyone, but to me, social camouflage works wonders.

LOL

My parents were both Norwegian immigrants.

I stand out like a sore thumb in my neighborhood.

Of course, the people who live here are used to me. If asked they likely say something along the lines of "That's Ann's husband. You know she always had a thing for white guys....."

LOL

My parents were both Norwegian immigrants.

I stand out like a sore thumb in my neighborhood.


You could always travel with some lutefisk leftovers. After a couple of days, no one will dare approach you.

You could always travel with some lutefisk leftovers. After a couple of days, no one will dare approach you.

Good idea.

But then, after a few days my wife wouldn't approach me either. That's no good.

Oh please...the same way you ride in "affluent" areas--PEDAL!:mad:

People kill me with the "ghetto" fears. If you are this afraid of the "ghetto"---here's a thought--try a different route.

The obsession with America's so called "ghetto" is truly nauseating. Seriously.

Clearly, your disdain and faux fear of your city's low income areas (clue: the residents are electing to live how they choose) and you are CHOOSING to ride in the area.

What I don't understand how an individual with elite arrogant judgemental attitude so obviously disgusted by the so called "ghetto"--why aren't you smart enough to find a more desirable route to your destination?

Wonder if the "ghetto" residents are thinking the same?

*sigh*

Whatever.

Oh please...the same way you ride in "affluent" areas--PEDAL!:mad:

People kill me with the "ghetto" fears. If you are this afraid of the "ghetto"---here's a thought--try a different route.

The obsession with America's so called "ghetto" is truly nauseating. Seriously.

Clearly, your disdain and faux fear of your city's low income areas (clue: the residents are electing to live how they choose) and you are CHOOSING to ride in the area.

What I don't understand how an individual with elite arrogant judgemental attitude so obviously disgusted by the so called "ghetto"--why aren't you smart enough to find a more desirable route to your destination?

Wonder if the "ghetto" residents are thinking the same?

*sigh*

Whatever.


1. Maybe they live in the ghetto and they don't feel secure, but can't move out
2. Maybe they have friends who live in the ghetto
3. Maybe their workplace is in or around the ghetto
4. Maybe they would have to go many miles out of their way to bypass the ghetto

Lotsa possibilities why someone can't just "avoid" the bad areas of their town. If you think the fears are unfounded, that's great for you. However, fear doesn't have to have a basis in reality. I know my heart skips a beat if I'm riding past an industrial park and there's some people loitering where they shouldn't be, and I have to ride by them. Doesn't matter the skin color by the way, fear is an equal opportunity emotion.

Posting from my pedestal high up here in the suburbs with our well manicured lawns, bike friendly roads and Bill Cosby mannered minorities.

Back in the day when I lived in South East San Diego I just avoided the side streets and stuck to the main thoroughfares. The extra mileage was just a bonus.