illadelphia esq

I'm down. I could use a $1,500 bike.

Amen. That is why I take the train for the middle part of my commute. I bike through some not-so-nice areas at times but would not want to do it on the regular.

Shodan

All of this may have mattered more on your FIRST day, not your LAST day.

Keep your head down.

drjava

I ride through Oakland. I don't necessarily fit the profile of the residents, but have yet to encounter any hostility. Then again, I ride during daylight and in mostly industrial areas. (Except for that one time I took the wrong turn into a dead end. Everyone around knew I didn't intend to be there. Still no problems.)

jchabalk 

Riding around in a city isn't going to be the safest thing in the world regardless.. I think you're much more likely to have a traffic accident with a vehicle than to be targeted for a mugging/shooting.

A few weeks ago as i was riding home i crossed an intersection as a shooting was taking place not 40 feet from me. I noticed a guy staggering away from a group of double-parked cars on mission st (at 21st) as i approached the intersection. He had blood puring from his leg, pants soaked through all the way down to his ankle and a pained look on his face. As i realized what was wrong there were 4-5 loud gun shots, the car reverse lights lit up and a bunch of guys scrambled. Needless to say I got the hell out of there as fast as i could.

This was in the middle of the day during the week. I stopped a couple of blocks up the street to buy some beer and went on my way home.

You live and ride in a city, bad stuff's going to happen every once in a while. I still ride that route home most days. Granted - that was as close a call as i've had but i try not to let it bother me...

HeIncreasesMe

Goodness! Wow. See I would at least called the police. See...this is what I am talking about just being in the wrong neighborhood could get you shot. What if one of those bullets missed its intended target? Crazy.

ok_commuter

damn fine looking chicken

uke

I'd like a piece of that drumstick, yuk yuk yuk...

lmxloco

OP, I know that neighborhood...I used to live there and I wouldn't worry too much about it. They may look like slums, but they wouldn't lift a finger to mug you unless your bike was worth at least $1600.

I should know...I knocked this kid off his huffy and rode away. My neighbors were so ashamed they kicked me out of the neighborhood association. Now I live in NC, where we don't care how expensive your bike is when we steal it!

availpunk9

I ride in Baltimore every day. Yes, I was nervous at first riding around, when I was new to the city. The city is in patches of sketchy looking neighborhoods. I kind of got used to it. The most trouble I've ever had were kids yelling at me when I ride out of the city on my fast bike, in full kit. When I'm in normal clothing commuting, I don't think I've ever had any issues with the ghettos. Drivers and road conditions on the other hand.....

CCrew

You've never ridden through Cherry Hill. Wife and I are originally from Balt. That is *far* from a good section of town.

-Roger

urban rider

I agree. I rode through some pretty rough neighborhoods in Detroit. I have had flats in some of these rough neigborhoods. No problem. It helps build your speed, if you want it. The main thing is to ride your bike and not act scared. Now, I am riding through the suburbs I have had the police stop me and I have had the "N" word directed to me. There are stupid and ignorant people everywhereYou can not predict where you will encounter them

HK45

Just joined the forum today! I urban ride Balto. on a mountain bike from Stoneleigh to Fell's Pt or to Ft. McHenry every other day. I take the alleys in Charles Village and side streets to avoid car traffic. I use Stony Run Park to get through Homeland, Guilford to JHU and Falls Rd to get to Mt. Vernon. Never had trouble. I am Asian, so the stereotype of knowing Karate might come into play. I do carry a Filipino Fighting Stick, Pepper spray and a neck knife if it comes to that. There have been incidents at the switchback by the Steiff building by Druid Hill Park of street thugs hijacking bikes around there. More like white trash from Remington helping themselves.

Fairmont

While some of you worry about possibly getting ambushed on your commute, I actually do almost everyday:

Squirrels and rabbits.


The bike path system on which I ride is smooth, well-maintained, glass and hoodlum-free, but there are a few scavenger types who stress me out: the rodents.

Every time I ride to work, more than one or two little furballs get freaked out and don't know what to do. Most of the time they aren't even on the path, but they get it into their little brains that they'd be a lot safer if they jumped into the way of my moving bike.

If they get hit, they're going to probably die, and there's a good chance I'll wipe out.

The first time it happened, I kid you not, a rabbit ran from the side (I was going about 18mph) and somehow crossed my path BETWEEN my wheels without getting struck by the front wheel, back wheel, pedals, or cranks. It was a one-in-a-million shot, and he made it. Had I hit him I would have flipped for sure. Now I am far more aware of those dumb bunnies and squirrels as I make my ride.

But, seriously: Every single ride they cross my path unnecessarily. None have ever tried to rob me though. I carry a sign that says, "Driver carries no nuts or berries." That seems to help.

Vodalus

the op's just scared of snoop and omar. that's all.

Stujoe

I wouldn't ride a $1500 bike in full 'cyclist' regalia in my neighborhood let alone someone else's. lol

Stujoe

I can add birds to that list. I ride part of my commute on a bike path that runs right next to cornfields. I could literally reach out and grab an ear of corn on my ride. I almost had a bird take off my head one morning. The rabbits are the most common obstruction, though.