Originally Posted by chicharron
I live in the inner city, own a house in the inner city, my children attend school in the inner city. I like the inner city, and don't believe it to be that dangerous, bostontrevor. THis thread is not about the inner city. It is about pepper spray, bicylist being attacked by motorist and dogs. It dosn't matter what part of town it is in. Both of the times that I was attacked were in "good neighborhoods.
I have always carried spray on my bike. I have never used it and I don't even know if it works. a few observations:
1) Commuting from Brooklyn to manhattan every day for the past 4 years, I can tell you that it's pea-brained motorists who are aggressive/threatening NOT punks, project-dwellers or any pedestrian (I pass hundreds every day);
2) Riding in rush hour on Fridays there's about a 70% chance someone will invite me to fight them from the window of their car. I always ignore them, but I get the pepper spray in my hand pretty quick and it makes me feel better if nothing else;
3) I was intentionally driven off the road by an SUV in Scottsdale, AZ where I grew up. Same thing happened on a mountain road outside Boulder, CO. Both cars stopped up ahead on the road to vent their anger at me for being on the road at all. These are two of the wealthiest communities in this country. Similar things have happened to me all over the country;
4) By far, the most aggressive, least restrained dogs I have ever encountered were in Washington and Oregon along the Pacific coast when I did a Pac Coast bike trip using the adventure cycling maps. Great route, unbelievable dog owners;
Just my $.02 --