Tips to keep safe when riding through sketchy neighborhoods?
#52
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Practice using your gears. You want to be able to switch down to a lower gear which will make it easier to peddle away from trouble should you have to slow down, change direction or bunny hop a kerb. I have to cycle through a rough area of town on nights and instinctively switch one click to a lower (easier), gear if I'm close to folk that might cause trouble and I can't just buzz around them at speed. I'm also up and out my saddle and always ready for a burst of speed.
Learn escape routes, (alternative roads, paths), and where nearby safe havens are, Police and gas stations etc.
Don't engage with anyone. If you get yelled at or folk throw things at you just keep moving. Most people can't be bothered chasing after a cyclist.
Some nights there are areas that just ain't worth going through. Find an alternative route/transport.
Normally I'd advocate high vis clothing, but in a dodgy neighbourhood ninja clothes are ok. I do tend to have a strong helmet light as I've gotten out of trouble by dazzling folk who came after me.
Keep moving, look like your on a mission and did I mention keep moving?
Learn escape routes, (alternative roads, paths), and where nearby safe havens are, Police and gas stations etc.
Don't engage with anyone. If you get yelled at or folk throw things at you just keep moving. Most people can't be bothered chasing after a cyclist.
Some nights there are areas that just ain't worth going through. Find an alternative route/transport.
Normally I'd advocate high vis clothing, but in a dodgy neighbourhood ninja clothes are ok. I do tend to have a strong helmet light as I've gotten out of trouble by dazzling folk who came after me.
Keep moving, look like your on a mission and did I mention keep moving?
#53
Walmart bike rider
I would suggest to vary your route and times if you can. If you pass point A at 4:50 every day for example, it will give scumbags more opportunity to case you out.
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I'll assume that the moments before you arrived in the sketchy area, that you were in a relatively safer area. Here's your tip - TURN AROUND.
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I lived in New Orleans and would commute through the more sketchy parts of town in the early morning. Early, as in too early for most trouble makers to be awake. Then, scenic (longer, safer) route on the way home in the evening.
Riding fast helps too.
Riding fast helps too.
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You must understand: if you try to pull out a ***, and I'm 2 feet away from you, I'll grab your wrist when you reach for your holster, and then take your ***. This goes for mace, a knife, a baton hidden up your ass, or anything else. Don't rely on weapons in that way.
a) Wouldn't touch the baton. I know where it was "holstered" (eww).
b) Run the other way. Anyone concealing weapons in their posterior, THEN go for a bike ride, has to be a crazy badass.
#57
Pedal Stompin'
Thanks for this, @bluefoxicy. Excellent stuff here. I had a sketchy situation this morning after months of commuting in the early morning without incident, I appreciate your thoughts.
It's kind of hard for me to identify with this for two reasons: lack of fear in general (I'm only nyctophobic, and that's largely been solved) and some weird thing where I don't lose fights (don't ask, I don't know why).
Weapons: hands first. Your body is the only weapon. Take Aikido, take Pentjak Silat, take Judo, take Jiu Jutsu, take Muay Thai, take something. Take both a grappling soft art and a striking hard art. Study in the context of self-defense, not sport fighting.
I can understand weapons. I've recently learned that most people don't see both time and space in movement: I see a moving object as its entire path, and its position related to time along a limited segment of that path in space. In other words: I can intersect the path of anything I can see moving with anything else I have sufficient physical control over. Weapons can deal more force and provide more protection than my body, and a simple, short, wooden stick can protect me from knives and pipe wrenches. This I understand.
You must understand: if you try to pull out a ***, and I'm 2 feet away from you, I'll grab your wrist when you reach for your holster, and then take your ***. This goes for mace, a knife, a baton hidden up your ass, or anything else. Don't rely on weapons in that way.
By the same token, if you can grapple with me for about 3 seconds before you inevitably lose, you can probably unholster your firearm and shoot me in the face. Probably. Maybe not.
Your body is your only protection. It will take a beating, and it can deal one out pretty hard. If you bring weapons, you will need to shield them when brought into play, or else you will lose them; your body must be ready to use weapons, or they are only dangerous to yourself. The only possible exception is a small, concealable air horn, which does no useful damage, but at least alerts the whole neighborhood and thus can't be used against you.
It also pisses people off, and they rain fury upon your head.
Also, don't look terrified. Don't be terrified. Your body does involuntary things with fear; you can't conceal it. You will be beaten, you will be bruised, you will be battered and you will be broken. These things heal; do not fear them. If someone brings them to you, force them back, and do not stop until you die; when they realize what they have started, terror will fill them. The most horrific thing for an assailant is the realization that you have no fear of them, even when they're winning. They know death is coming the moment they flinch.
People attack you because they're weak, frightened cowards. It is the duty of the strong to protect the weak.
Weapons: hands first. Your body is the only weapon. Take Aikido, take Pentjak Silat, take Judo, take Jiu Jutsu, take Muay Thai, take something. Take both a grappling soft art and a striking hard art. Study in the context of self-defense, not sport fighting.
I can understand weapons. I've recently learned that most people don't see both time and space in movement: I see a moving object as its entire path, and its position related to time along a limited segment of that path in space. In other words: I can intersect the path of anything I can see moving with anything else I have sufficient physical control over. Weapons can deal more force and provide more protection than my body, and a simple, short, wooden stick can protect me from knives and pipe wrenches. This I understand.
You must understand: if you try to pull out a ***, and I'm 2 feet away from you, I'll grab your wrist when you reach for your holster, and then take your ***. This goes for mace, a knife, a baton hidden up your ass, or anything else. Don't rely on weapons in that way.
By the same token, if you can grapple with me for about 3 seconds before you inevitably lose, you can probably unholster your firearm and shoot me in the face. Probably. Maybe not.
Your body is your only protection. It will take a beating, and it can deal one out pretty hard. If you bring weapons, you will need to shield them when brought into play, or else you will lose them; your body must be ready to use weapons, or they are only dangerous to yourself. The only possible exception is a small, concealable air horn, which does no useful damage, but at least alerts the whole neighborhood and thus can't be used against you.
It also pisses people off, and they rain fury upon your head.
Also, don't look terrified. Don't be terrified. Your body does involuntary things with fear; you can't conceal it. You will be beaten, you will be bruised, you will be battered and you will be broken. These things heal; do not fear them. If someone brings them to you, force them back, and do not stop until you die; when they realize what they have started, terror will fill them. The most horrific thing for an assailant is the realization that you have no fear of them, even when they're winning. They know death is coming the moment they flinch.
People attack you because they're weak, frightened cowards. It is the duty of the strong to protect the weak.
#58
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Thanks for this, @bluefoxicy. Excellent stuff here. I had a sketchy situation this morning after months of commuting in the early morning without incident, I appreciate your thoughts.
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I ride my bike all the time in South Central Los Angeles, Compton and all over the worst neighborhoods. I know most people are scared of the crime but I would say the biggest threat to a cyclist is the drivers. They are the WORST more RECKLESS and DANGEROUS drivers I have ever seen.
As far as crime....being on a bike is much better than being on foot. Just keep moving, don't stop anywhere. If you see a group of males or males acting suspicious give them a wide berth.
As far as crime....being on a bike is much better than being on foot. Just keep moving, don't stop anywhere. If you see a group of males or males acting suspicious give them a wide berth.
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It's painfully obvious the more time one spends pointing their finger at others, the less time they spend looking in the mirror looking at themselves.
Maybe I'm just not as awesome as the typical BF member, but most of the time partly to blame for what happens to me.
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I love aikido, especially in combination with judo, but you're going to have trouble using either of them at all unless you completely ditch the bike. Get your start in a striking art, then see if you can find a combination aikido and judo dojo once you're at least a green belt in your other form of wrestlepunchery.
#63
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It looks like I won't have a car for a while. Problem is, I live in a very dangerous part of town. I'm a young 20s female and kinda stand out based on my ethnicity (please don't take this as a racist remark, but I'm blonde and glow-in-the-dark white. The majority of people who live around me are black or Latino).
What are some tips to keep safe? I'm terrified of getting a flat in one of these neighborhoods. Prevention strategies?
Also, personal defense ideas? Just in case...
What are some tips to keep safe? I'm terrified of getting a flat in one of these neighborhoods. Prevention strategies?
Also, personal defense ideas? Just in case...
Noting that you live in Houston. Are you referring to the area around the airport(Houston InterContinental Airport), NFL stadium(Houston Texans), or an area I haven't mentioned?
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Avoid sketchy neighbourhoods after dark in the evenings. They are much safer from 7 am till noon.
You can stay in phone contact during your ride (with a headset). Keep mentioning your route and position to your phone friend every two minutes, during the ride. If you are attacked, your friend can call the police for you directly, if you say "Help".
Or use a small mobile alarm device, or alarm software on your smartphone with GPS. That makes contact with an alarm company if you click the alarm button. These systems require a paid registration, but can also connect freely to the computer of a friend via mobile internet.
Your friend or alarm company can then track your route and location real time on his computer or smartphone. There are also alarm buttons that connect with your own smartphone via Bluetooth.
Use a folding bike. Then you can use a taxi or city-bus back home in the evening, while riding your bike in the morning to your destination.
Dress and disguise like a man, with gloves etc.
When you are pursued at night, ring at the door at the nearest house where you have seen someone inside.
Don't argue with strangers, even if they provoke you.
Sleep over after a visit at your friends house, if the ride home is not safe in the evening.
Make reliable friends that can help you if need be.
Find a reliable trustworthy person for an intimate relationship.
Avoid making friends or doing business with people that you don't trust!
Avoid conflicts.
Check reliable websites and web-videos about crime prevention.
Be careful.
Prevent ongoing stress and worrying, since it causes serious disease.
Find a safe neighbourhood to live and work.
You can stay in phone contact during your ride (with a headset). Keep mentioning your route and position to your phone friend every two minutes, during the ride. If you are attacked, your friend can call the police for you directly, if you say "Help".
Or use a small mobile alarm device, or alarm software on your smartphone with GPS. That makes contact with an alarm company if you click the alarm button. These systems require a paid registration, but can also connect freely to the computer of a friend via mobile internet.
Your friend or alarm company can then track your route and location real time on his computer or smartphone. There are also alarm buttons that connect with your own smartphone via Bluetooth.
Use a folding bike. Then you can use a taxi or city-bus back home in the evening, while riding your bike in the morning to your destination.
Dress and disguise like a man, with gloves etc.
When you are pursued at night, ring at the door at the nearest house where you have seen someone inside.
Don't argue with strangers, even if they provoke you.
Sleep over after a visit at your friends house, if the ride home is not safe in the evening.
Make reliable friends that can help you if need be.
Find a reliable trustworthy person for an intimate relationship.
Avoid making friends or doing business with people that you don't trust!
Avoid conflicts.
Check reliable websites and web-videos about crime prevention.
Be careful.
Prevent ongoing stress and worrying, since it causes serious disease.
Find a safe neighbourhood to live and work.
Last edited by George3; 05-21-17 at 05:57 PM.
#67
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I wish BF had some sort of virtual garlic or wooden stakes we could use to lay zombie threads to rest.
Like a few of the others, I observe that some people always seem to run into problems, and others very rarely (if ever) and have my own suspicions that it's more than luck that explains the deviation from averages.
Like a few of the others, I observe that some people always seem to run into problems, and others very rarely (if ever) and have my own suspicions that it's more than luck that explains the deviation from averages.
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Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
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WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
#68
Cycle Year Round
He must be trying to up his post count.
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Land of the Free, Because of the Brave.
Land of the Free, Because of the Brave.
#69
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Either that or he's a necrothreadiac.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
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Cycle Year Round
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Are young psychologists being given training on how to work with the new cyber deviants being created by the possibilities opened up by the Internet? When Virtual Reality technology matures I shudder to think of what the freaks will come up with then. Kinks heretofore impossible in only three dimensions and a 9.0 newton meters/sec gravitational constant. Oh boy, Brave New World, here we come, ready or not.
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