Hey all,

I'm wanting to start commuting again (I'm a wuss, and wont commute in the snow ). Now I go to school in Gary, IN (Once the murder capital of the USA! ) and work in E. Chicago, IN (Not much better than Gary).

My wife is FREAKING out that I want to commute! I don't get it. I don't ride an expensive bike, so if someone wants it, they can have it (cost me $120 on CL). I have no $, so they can have my wallet. Worst case I might end up walking home.... I like to look on the bright side. When I would ride in, the Gang-Bangers are still asleep (or just going to bed), and when I go home they are just getting up (I doubt I would get hassled).

I offered to get a $500K Life Insurance Policy (need one anyways, I have 3 kids) and that didn't appease her.

She had the same objections last summer, when I commuted to school in Hammond, In. I never had a problem. I think part of her problem is she is never "on the ground" in these neighborhoods.... When I first started going to school here I was NERVOUS as all get out. Now, Its just another drive in the cage.

Any suggestions on winning her over? This is the ONLY exercise I get (I'm a fat kid. Always have been, always will be. Trying to keep it to a minimum) and I ENJOY it DAMN IT!

TIA

Billy

I really don't have much good advice, as I don't frequent those areas (I've driven through Gary in a car, and that's bad enough for me). But I would like to say to get some flat resistant tires. That way, you can always outrun the gangbangers without worrying about getting a flat, going down, and getting beat up.

tell her with the money you will save you will buy her a coach bag.

I don't know what level of self defense you would be comfortable with, but my wife would be appeased if I had my sidearm with me, and in your case maybe take some classes on firearm self defense. I also don't know the regs in IN, but getting a concealed carry permit in CO isn't that difficult. Both my wife and I have one, and hers is always in her handbag.

Before we moved to Denver she NEVER would have purchased a gun, let alone used one or carried one. It took her about three months of being here and she was all for it. I bought her a knife, first, and she felt a little safer, and then we took firearm safety classes and I got her a small Glock 9mm with a single stack clip. The thing could fit in your pocket! It only holds 7 rounds, but it's well enough to do quite a bit of damage in practiced hands.

If that won't do it for her, try adding on hand-to-hand self defense classes.

I'm a pretty cagey guy, an ex-NCAA wrestler and I train in MMA, and I carry a firearm with me most of the time, but even I would be wary of that commute and would probably just drive. You just never know what weirdo is going to put a round in you just because he feels like it.

When I was first thinking about buying a bike, and asking freinds advice about what to buy, one guy told me "Go to Costco and buy something cheap. That way, if it gets stolen, you can just buy a new one, and it won't be that big of a deal." You already have this covered.

Do they make reflective Kevlar vests?

She's being irrational. Just do it.

I keep my cell phone at my hip on all rides. That helps. Plus, helmet, sunglasses, and gloves contribute to your safety.

The thing is, you'll be safer riding the bike because you'll burn calories and get into shape. Good health will help you live longer. The fun of the ride will change your ways.

Mine was against it. But she never stopped me. Now she's all for it.

I ride 8.7 miles through Philadelphia right through North Philly. We have plenty of murders here and lots of them are right in the neighborhoods I ride through. Here are my tips. First ride fast. If you are going fast enough no one will bother you. Two ride with traffic. I think there is something psychological about riding in the street that makes people think of you as seperated from them. Finally find a busy street to ride on. I know this is the exact opposite of the advice you get most of the time for commuting but when you are mostly worried about thugs not cagers busy streets are safer.

Good argument for VC. Don't be mistaken for an approachable pedestrian.

I'm a big guy(6' 215#) and a former US Marine. I'm not into MMA or anything, but if I had to, I can kick some ass (Hope to never have to.... I'm a bad Marine ) While I have a CCW (Indiana has the EASIEST laws to get one) I cant carry at work (In a hospital) or at school (Cant carry in ANY School for ANY REASON - Dont you think the kids at VT would have liked to have one straped on?)

I dunno, I'm just not that worried about it.... Mabey I'm stupid (Mabey????) but I just dont think its that big of a deal....
I ride as fast as I can (when I'm in shape, and no massive head wind, I can probably average 15-18mph) but the potholes around here are like tank traps! I've seriously worried about wrecking the suspensioin on my car by driving around here. (I swear, Gary has the most corrupt politicians... they must do SOMETHING with the money the state gives them, but NOTHING gets done about the streets.... When it snow's they only plow going OUT of gary! I guess they figure no one wants to get in! )

Billy

I'm confused...

You asked permission?

One thing to consider is that most murders are committed in a domestic situation. However, this may vary for the region you're traveling through (I'm not familiar with it) ... but in general, it's more likely that your wife is going to shoot you than a random stranger.

She has me VERY well trained I ask, even if I have no intention of doing what she wants....

Better than my Father in law.... I have my testcles.... His are in his wifes purse!

You MUST know my wife!

I hope I never get on you guys' bad side...

It drives me NUTS... I have a CCW but CANT USE IT! I cant carry at school and cant carry at work.... Whats the point of having it? So I can carry in the house? I never go ANYWHERE!

In the US, there's a rough correlation. If the murder rate is high, the most common sort of murder is where two people know each other (not just spouses). If the murder rate is low, the most common sort of murder is where the people involved are strangers.

Even in places where drive by shootings happen often, they're *not* the most likely way to end up dead.

I'd probably start by encouraging her to go out for a walk in your neighborhood with you. If she has personal experience that just being outside is not lethal, she'll be more comfortable with a bike ride . (this reduces the risk that her response to you biking to work is "that's not safe! I'm gonna kill him for endangering himself like that!" )

See, OUR neighborhood is great.... Its Gary and E. Chicago she is freaked out about..... This county is weird... Very small, and has almost 20 "Cities" in it.... I swear, Unincorporated Fallbrook Ca has more land area than Lake Co. IN.... We are in the nicest (IMHO) neighborhood in the county, and are only about 8 miles from downtown Gary....

# of people who die in car accidents in the county: _____________
# of people who are murdered riding through bad neighborhoods: _______________

Facts are probably pointless though, as irrational fear is just that...

Dont forget the number of cyclists run over by stupid cagers too busy talking on their cellphones to be bothered with controlling their multi-ton vehicles.....

this won't really help you, because, as others have pointed out, irrational fear is irrational. She most likely has decided and no arguments otherwise will change her mind.

However, I've had two recent experiences in my life which have changed what I think when I hear the phrase "bad neighborhood". First my wife and I move to C-bus and due to situations beyond our control the only places we could afford to live were what were considered "bad neighborhoods". Now granted the one decided on was not the worst available at the time, however it is considered by all of my coworkers a "no go area". We've been here for 3 years now and (knocking on wood) have had zero problems (other than some annoying neighbors, noise and garbage, the usual).

Second I took a long trip to Mexico City. In reading about the city ahead of time, I was ready for the worst. I got myself into peak physical condition (running on the weekends on top of biking). I got to the city and on most nights found myself a long walk from the hotel after dinner. In walking around at night I realized I didn't feel any less safe than I would have in any American city walking around.

granted these are two very anectdotal evidences, however these two experiences started me questioning my underlying assumptions, and whether or not the fear of "bad neighborhoods" is more rooted in bigotry and a fear of people not like ourselves, than in a statistical analysis of the dangers faced.

Are they more dangerous than a "good neighborhood"? sure. But is it such a signifcant trend that you should avoid them? I'm not so sure.

I agree wholeheartedly.

If you don't bother people and don't loiter late at night, you'll be safe. The one issue you can face is that some teenagers get together and make a sport out of attacking people. That's rare. But if you see a group of teens that look threatening, be extra careful.

I know this is somewhat irrelevant, but people tend to worry about things they imagine. I do a lot of rock and glacier climbing. People keep saying "That is so dangerous!"

I tell them, fact is, a couple of years ago in Washington, only 4 or 5 people died in climbing accidents, and one of those was a heart attack. People died EVERY DAY in car accidents in Washington. There were 60 murders just in Seattle. 142 homeless people died of various causes on the streets of Seattle in 2006.

How many bicyclists were murdered in Indiana in the last year? Any? How many people were killed in carjackings or road-rage incidents?

I think part of the problem is that the perception is based on what you see.... We just got back from lunch, and driving through Gary is like driving through a war zone.... Trash is EVERYWHERE. Buildings are falling appart. People have knocked out the lenses in the street lights....

Its hard to feel safe in a place like that.

BTW, How hard is it to pick up the trash in your yard? Or to not just throw your trash out into the alley? I understand that the mill jobs have dried up, and that the economy around here is in the dumps, but why do these people insist on living in squalor? I know this sounds biggited, but its realy not. It has nothing to do with race.... Having lived all over this country, I've noticed a trend. In "economicaly challenged neighborhoods" there tends to be trash everywhere and the houses are not maintained... It seems to be endemic to the economic status, not the color of someones skin.

Just curious - why do YOU live there?

Obviously not, if you came to the internet to ask this question.

Just start riding. She'll be annoyed, in a couple weeks nothing bad will have happened, and she'll be used to the idea, and won't care anymore.