Originally Posted by
KimPossible
On the issue of why women don't commute, only ONE person posted personal safety.
Many of the "risks" popularized by the media... aren't. And it is very distracting to focus on those risks rather than the real ones. I have a measurable risk of dying in a car accident every time I use a car. On a bike, that risk is much lower. Same deal when I'm being a pedestrian. And my risk of being attacked by a stranger is nearly zero... much closer to zero than my risk of a crash. My risk of attack by my partner is much higher of course.
By comparison, there have been only a couple murders by strangers over the last year and a half in Madison. And all of them were home invasions. I'm more at risk right now, sitting here at home and in broad daylight than I am out on the road. (yes, most of them happened in broad daylight too) And **** is almost always some form of date **** around here... so again, my partner is my biggest risk.
Based on this, I would like to ask the readers out there who live in large metropolitan areas or have to ride in less than safe areas, how they go about protecting themselves. What is your plan if something happened?
Do you carry pepper spray?
A firearm?
Are you trained in martial arts?
Do you think you could just out ride someone chasing you?
The most likely "something" is I have a mechanical problem. My bike is pretty trouble free, but any bike can have issues. I can deal with easy stuff, and I'm learning more. While I learn, I've got at least 4 bike shops within walking distance. To prevent rude surprises, I check my bike over before every ride.
I do not carry weapons. I'm not trained, and an untrained person with a weapon is very shortly unarmed and the weapon is used against them. Not doing that. Further, it's easier to disarm a small person, and I'm small compared to most men. Staying qualified to a high enough level to reduce that risk is not something I'm willing to do. (I'm still on the large side for a woman, but I don't let that give me delusions... a man my size is almost always strong enough to overpower me.)
I can't out ride most people. If I truly thought someone was following me with ill intent, I'd head for a well lit public place (and on most of my rides, that's as simple as stopping, parking my bike, and walking maybe as far as 100 yards into the nearest store). Screaming your head off in the public library because someone is attacking you is gonna get attention. A man on a bike following a woman on a bike *so* isn't around here. Racing around in a panic trying to ditch a tail is a good way for me to get hurt too.
Main thing I do is pay attention. If something looks or feels wrong, it usually is.