hello fellow Orange County resident! i know what you mean, OC is VERY diverse. i go from Anaheim to Fullerton,(7.5mi) and it goes from nice to not so nice like 4 times on my route. Is this neighborhood totally unavoidable or would it add too much time/distance to find and alternate route? Aside from just kinda braving it, i'd think that an alternate route would be best. maybe carry some pepper spray or something like that if you felt it was necessary...?

Just curious, what city/ neighborhood is your "not so nice" area?