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How do you feel about commuting through "rough" areas?

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How do you feel about commuting through "rough" areas?

Old 04-01-09, 06:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Schwinnrider
Or he could visit his local PD and check the crime reports for that area. Sometimes perception IS reality.

If he blends into the area, that's one thing. But if the OP is riding a nice shiny expensive bike in an area where people have to choose between rent or food he could be a tempting target.
+1. I ride through a rough area on my way to work and I always check my route against a 'crime map' that I found for the city online. Do a search for one of those and only ride along streets that haven't had shootings in the last year or so.

Originally Posted by Bill Shanks
Treat people with respect, live and let live. You'll be OK.
You aren't from a city, are you? I was on a ride last year, made a wrong turn and ended up in the wrong neighborhood. Someone came up to me and told me I need to leave because I didn't belong. He told me not as a friendly warning, but as a threat. There are neighborhoods in Pittsburgh where people get shot just for being there.
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Old 04-01-09, 06:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Schwinnrider
Why do neighborhoods become that way? Because law abiding citizens tire of becoming victims, of watching their neighborhoods fall into slums. But the law abiding can't dispense justice on their own, so they move(if they're financially able). What do you suggest people do?

Hey, I'm all for vigilante justice. Burn down the crack houses. Hunt down the gangbangers. But that's not realistic, and if the police DO increase their presence then the residents of said neighborhoods complain about profiling and police brutality. WTF?
I hate to sound like a crazy liberal here, because I really do sympathize with that opinion, even though I think it is wrong. Here in Atlanta we have done exactly what you've suggested, sort of. The Atlanta Housing Authority decided to demolish all the housing projects in the city and displace everyone that lived in them, because there was too much crime/drugs/violence etc. The result is that the people are now without permanent homes, but they are still the same people. Some of them found ways to stay in the same areas, some of them found ways to move into the nicer areas of town. Society's underbelly is just like the rest of us, they are going to figure out a way to survive despite the circumstances.

I work in one of these neighborhoods in South Atlanta, where 50% of the houses are boarded up, has the highest carjacking/violence/crime/prostitution incidence in the city, so I have to bike through it pretty regularly. I wish I could say that I feel comfortable biking through there, but I am usually pretty on guard. I have three locks on my bike when I get where I'm going. During the day I am pretty sure that I'm ok, more worried about my bike being stolen while its locked up than I am worried about being robbed, but at night I won't go down there. I just make sure my work is done by 6pm so I can leave.
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Old 04-01-09, 09:58 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by Big_e
+1 to that. The part of town I live in is considered by many to be a rough part of town. Just make sure to treat people like people. Look them in the eye as you ride by and tell them "good afternoon" or "good morning". They'll get used to you and you'll soon become part of the regulars as you ride through.
Along the lines of what Makeinu said, I make note of improvements needed on my ride. I have reported, and caused to have abated, potholes, graffiti, burned out streetlights and stray dogs. I live here and plan to stay here for a long time.
I'm a city employee so if I smash into a pothole or get chased by strays in the early morning dark, I'll come back to the location in my assigned city vehicle, call the violation in and get the problem resolved. Personal interest? Heck yeah! I consider my entire job in serving the citizens of Dallas as a personal interest.Ernest
Sweet.
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Old 04-01-09, 12:54 PM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by Kedosto
IMO, it's pretty cavalier to suggest any notion of "standing up for your community" or other such nonsense. If you're considering doing such a thing, I suggest you poll your friends and loved ones first. Ask them what they prefer you do, then do as they wish. Because in the end, if you end up a statistic, they're the ones who'll have to pick up the pieces and move on with their lives. You know, there's a reason we pay people to "serve and protect."

Drive your route at the time of day you'd normally be riding. Check alternates and options. You may need multiple routes. The mechanical condition of your bike must be impeccable, and your tires reliable. Don't ride like you're scared, but don't be macho stupid either. Use your head, and go with your hunches.

Ride safe. Be safe. This is the real world. Think about it.
Well said Kedosto!
I mean, let's be serious here: the OP could be putting his life on the line. If you think that's over-dramatic, let's just say his bike and personal safety are on the line. I would say consider carrying pepper spray and avoid the rough area at night. Even if it costs you a little extra time to go around the area when it's dark, your safety is worth it.

Also, AWARENESS is your friend. You have probably already read the "almost jacked" thread that is a good example of this. Good luck!
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Old 04-01-09, 01:01 PM
  #30  
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Danger... hmmmph my commute takes me past Donnie and Marie Osmonds childhood home.... And you talk of Danger in "rough neighborhoods"... LOL...
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Old 04-01-09, 01:25 PM
  #31  
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I've read some threads here like: "almost got jacked" and I almost got jacked in a car once. Trust your instincts and intuition, we have them for a reason. The individuals who do not listen to their instincts and intuition did not survive to reproduce and evolve.
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Old 04-01-09, 01:37 PM
  #32  
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Just give respectful nod hello in passing and they'll usually nod back as you ride by....
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Old 04-01-09, 01:56 PM
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Yes, I agree, a respectful nod. I've done that. Funny how punks are so dialed into respect, I guess because they don't get much and people often call them punks.
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Old 04-01-09, 02:16 PM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by Kedosto
I think it's important to consider the route, the timing, and your family. A "rough area" isn't so rough at 6:30 a.m., as the only folks out and about are either going to work or school. That same area at 6:30 p.m. on a Friday evening could be entirely uncivilized...
1+. I ride Blue Hill Ave and/or Route 203 through Roxbury, Mattapan and/or Dorchester some mornings between about 5:30 to 6:30 on weekdays and weekends. IMO, in general, after about 4:00 AM the crazies are off the roads, and until about 6:00 AM there are a majority of particularly solid citizens about; those entrusted with getting the world started for the commuting hordes to follow.
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Old 04-01-09, 11:18 PM
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
I've read some threads here like: "almost got jacked" and I almost got jacked in a car once. Trust your instincts and intuition, we have them for a reason. The individuals who do not listen to their instincts and intuition did not survive to reproduce and evolve.
I think you mean "the individuals who did not have good intuition did not survive to reproduce, so you should listen to yours because you're here!" ;-)
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Old 04-02-09, 12:57 AM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by Geordi Laforge
lol @ "rough areas" in san diego

Dude you're so tough!

Thanks for your contribution, it was extremely substantial and meaningful for the topic. Maybe if we all wore a t-shirt with LeVar Burton's picture on it we would be untouchable and bullet proof. But you dont have to take my word for it

...compliments of the reading rainbow.
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Old 04-02-09, 09:52 AM
  #37  
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No real rough spots for me. Just one stretch of low rent appartments next to a park, where nearly all the police reports occur. And most of the police reports that are not in that area typically end up involving someone who lives there. So I just skip that area when the weather gets nice. It might seem crazy, but when its cold out, the street and park are empty, and the area resembles the rest of suburbia. I wouldn't dispute that a greater risk is from some cell phone yapping or texting driver, but then again, I would also re-route around them if I could.

edit: Wouldn't any area where pepper spray is adequate defense and preparation for confrontation be a non-rough area?

Last edited by Hot Potato; 04-02-09 at 10:00 AM.
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Old 04-02-09, 10:05 AM
  #38  
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A New Yorkers opinion, JUST DO IT

I commute about 24 miles each way through the city so nice they
named it twice NEW YORK NEW YORK.

I go through Harlem, I go through Central Park , I go through Bed Stuy DAY & NITE (after 10pm) and I'm a white dude. Seems not to the people who live in these areas any more than the Park Avenue crowds and I have no issues. In fact some of these places are the parts I like best. People hanging out, rather than inside watching TV.
The difference is that perhaps I get a thumbs up in these areas.

People are people, keep to the main roads, no short cuts in back alleys and don't be eyeballing anyone. Eye contact is fine and smile. Oh yeah, don't be a jerk and realize that danger lurks
everywhere. Don't act like your a tourist and ride like you know where your going.

You'll be fine.
Funny story, I have a bright headlight, a fenix with a strobe light. As I rode one night I heard two guys talking saying, he thinks he's "Five-Oh" (slang for police).

Rob

Last edited by Not the Slowest; 04-02-09 at 11:08 AM.
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Old 04-02-09, 10:30 AM
  #39  
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It has been a long time since I rode through bad areas, since I moved to Colorado, but I used to do it on a regular basis. The kind of places where people just started shooting at police cars when they pulled into that neighborhood. Good advice above. The tactics that worked best for me were:
  • Don't ride through there sporting expensive-looking gear. A helmet and gloves were okay, but i tended to wear workout sweats or gym shorts, and used home-made panniers instead of nice ones (made from military surplus ammunition sacks and a couple of scrap pieces of peg-board).
  • I used to turn off my headlights and blinkies while riding through those areas. Dark-colored reflective gear is okay, but this is one place where being a bike ninja is a good idea.
  • Vary your route. Pick out 3+ completely different routes to get through and/or around the worst areas, and vary your route randomly. Don't ride the same route every Wednesday, or anything.
  • Just pay attention, and when in doubt, change your plan or route. Be willing to go around-the-block if you see something suspicious ahead of you.
  • Forget traffic laws. Your objective is to get through there without causing any trouble, or tempting any street people or thugs that may see you as an opportunity. If you are not an easy target, they just move on.
  • Don't be rude. Eye contact is okay. A vast majority of the people that live there are nice. They are just poor, and happened to be born and/or end up there. It never hurts to smile a good morning to someone that you see on a regular basis walking to the bus stop for work/school.
  • If something weird does happen, pedal like mad to get the hell out of there. Don't look back, just GO.

I was deliberately messed with by automobile drivers in "decent" parts of town on a regular basis, but can only think of a couple of times that somebody messed with me while riding through those rougher areas. And they were not as serious or determined about it as people in better parts of town can be. Things are tough down there, and they don't have the luxury of expending so much energy on a grudge against some random stranger on a bicycle.

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Old 04-02-09, 10:39 AM
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My 2nd biggest fear of riding through "rough" areas is getting a flat or breaking down while riding through - if you're going to do it, be sure to get some good flat resistant tires. I can't imagine anything screaming "easy mark" more than someone sitting on the curb changing a flat bike tire.
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Old 04-02-09, 11:02 AM
  #41  
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Originally Posted by Geordi Laforge
lol @ "rough areas" in san diego
The border towns are indeed getting a little harry. But, I sort of agree SD roughness is a far cry from LA "everydayness".

Anyhow...I have ridden through a lot of bad neighborhoods in Chi and Det back in the 80's and early 90's -- just as the crack hit the streets -- and never had any real issues (my biggest hassles ALWAY came from teenage A-holes in cars). However, I would not suggest stopping to take a leak in any dark out of the way places. Just keep moving and MYOB.
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Old 04-02-09, 11:07 AM
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Yeah, good tires are a must. I always rode with good tires, tire-liners, and slimed tubes when I went through there. I also carried extra CO2 cartridges, so that if I had to, I could just top it up enough to make it out of there before I changed the tube.

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Old 04-02-09, 12:19 PM
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Originally Posted by PaulRivers
My 2nd biggest fear of riding through "rough" areas is getting a flat or breaking down while riding through - if you're going to do it, be sure to get some good flat resistant tires. I can't imagine anything screaming "easy mark" more than someone sitting on the curb changing a flat bike tire.
Someone doing anything in tight spandex with a fruity colored shirt and superhero helmet maybe?
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Old 04-02-09, 02:11 PM
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My biggest fear while fixing a flat is hearing the words, "That sure is a perdy mouth!"
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Old 04-02-09, 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Pinyon
Yeah, good tires are a must. I always rode with good tires, tire-liners, and slimed tubes when I went through there. I also carried extra CO2 cartridges, so that if I had to, I could just top it up enough to make it out of there before I changed the tube.

haha, FINALLY - someone has a good reason I can understand for carrying CO2 cartridges!
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Old 04-02-09, 03:36 PM
  #46  
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do it, just be smart and trust your gut, and be prepared as others have stated. Don't do anything dumb, like riding a flashy $8000 bike with delicate sewups.

And keep your ears open. Check police blotters. There are areas like Harlem and Bed-Stuy, as mentioned above, that have awful reputations that are somewhat out of date. I'd still be careful in BS but I wouldn't worry about it for commuting.

There are other areas in NY that you would never think are problems but have been recently (eg, machetes used to bike jack in Williamsburg). I used to go through there every day, I was very surprised to hear it; but then you have lots of hipsters riding regularly past the as-yet non-gentrified fringe areas by the bridge on their Bob Jackson fixies, so its not that hard to comprehend it happening eventually....I think that died down very quickly, tho.
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Old 04-02-09, 05:30 PM
  #47  
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The only time someone has tried to mug me it was broad daylight in a wealthy suburb.

Life is random. So I just live, y'know?
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Old 04-02-09, 05:31 PM
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More crooks in the wealthy neighborhoods
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Old 04-02-09, 11:30 PM
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I live in Detroit so I do NOT wear a "kit" or flashy spandex and I take all the decals off my bikes. I keep my speed up but look as if I am taking my time, ya know? Look like you belong and don't be a tuf guy! If eye contact is made I just nod as if to say, sup? Sound silly to you? I grew up here and I am 44 and 6 years car free. I hate to say this but I am white and in Detroit, I go where I want when I want to as it should be.
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Old 04-03-09, 04:31 AM
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The only portions of 'rough' neighborhoods that cause me real concern are places where the road narrows down and a lot of kids hang out during the day. There was one spot like this on my route where I had to be extra alert as some of the 'kids' thought it was funny trying to make me crash. There just wasn't that much space to manuver.

The sad thing is this will no longer be an issue as all of the houses along that little strech (where they all lived) are now boarded up and I presume foreclosed.

The other thing that gets my caution up a bit (and it is most likely just me being a worrier) are Friday afternoons in the summer. Lots more people out and a bit more uncertainty.

I remind myself how silly this is by thinking of the day I crashed in a 'bad' area and was waiting for my wife to come get me. I stood there watching the cars fly by and maybe 20% were not talking on cell phones --- for people in cars attention to the road is for suckers, I guess.
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