I honestly think that it's incredibly foolish to ride (or even walk) anywhere without carrying AT LEAST a 2oz canister of pepper spray. Needless to say, they're not only useful against dogs. If someone takes a fancy to your nice bike, you may wish you had some means of defending your property. The likelihood of that happening probably depends on where you live, of course. I live in an urban neighborhood of St. Louis. The experiences I've had dealing with the "locals" have convinced me of the sanity of being prepared for the worst.
