Today in my local newspaper is a story of a women pushing a stroller exercising on the mup before 8AM. She is confronted by some thug and told to take her clothes off. When she resists he threatens to hurt her child in the stroller. She grabs her cell phone and he takes off. By the time the police arrive he is long gone.

My question is: Being on a bike, have you ever encountered a crime in process? Did you take any action?

The reason this hit home for me, was that the crime happened on the trail I ride every day (twice a day actually to and from work), however it happened on a day I was out of town.

Stuff like this totally pisses me off. Poor woman..I bet she was terrified. Makes you want to carry a gun with you.

Never encountered a crime. But it has happened along the MUPs I travel. Women especiallly need to carry some protection or travel in pairs.

Yup - - so I do.

Does anyone know about crime on the MVT or any other trails around DC? I often have to commute back home long after dark (9pm-11pm) and its about 6 miles of lonely trail. I have often wondered about crime, though after 9 months I have had no incidence.

I feel so much safer when I read posts like these.

If you see something, say something. Especially if it's a mother and child being assaulted.

A woman got attacked on the MUP here, I think it was last year. South of the section that I ride. Lots of homeless people hang out in that area. The coppers caught the guy eventually.

Well exercised lungs and a cell phone are about all I'd suggest. If you're not *positive* you can keep someone a foot taller and 100lbs heavier from taking a weapon away from you, then any weapon you carry can be used against you. Most women (like me) are small enough that a man can easily get an unfamiliar weapon away from us. It takes a lot of training and practice to be sure you can hold on to a weapon and use it appropriately in a self defense situation. If you're not willing to put in the time, do not carry a weapon... because then you're just helping your attacker.

Traveling in a group is a good idea. It's not always practical tho. If I'm out late (for me, which is not late for most people), I make sure people know when to expect me, and what route I might take. I keep track of how long common trips take me too... if I'm an hour late from a 10 mile ride, my partner and friends would be *very* perturbed.

There was a woman ***** and murdered on the mup that is directly behind my apartment complex. Happened right next to the gate that leads from the apartments to the trail.

She was jogging towards dark though, when the trail and park are supposed to be closed.

i've never encountered a crime in progress but have seen cop cars on the MUP, and they've described a suspect, asking me if I'd seen him.

By "protection" I meant pepper spray, not a glock.

a woman got murderd on the MUP i sometimes ride (silver comet trail). I did a century there yesterday and I saw a prison work detail. One prisoner was trying to escape I believe, im not really sure what was happening but he wasnt wearing the neon vest, just his jumpsuit and was skeeving around in the woods. I probably should have mentioned something to the warden

Our newest mup in town has a long history as an abandoned railroad grade so it has long been an ad hoc highway and campground of sorts. I'm not aware of any recent crimes on it though.

There have been a number of incidents on a popular MUP (los gatos creek).

The only time I came on anything like seeing a crime (maybe) was seeing a guy coming from the side of the all scratched and bloody. I asked if he needed an ambulance. It was really wierd and he was pretty crazy. Long story short....he'd responded to a CL ad for an outdoor assignation......it seemed like it got violent...

Sad state of affairs when a woman is forced to ride in pairs and "carry some protection" just to ride her bike (or jog or push a stroller or walk or go to the store or breathe...).

We had an MUP Sexual Assault at the beginning of this month.

DING DING DING!!! WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!

If you are going to cary a weapon (and I mean anything from a steak knife to a Glock) you should know how to use it! Most weapons related injuries are self inflicted by people who didn't know what they were doing. These things are DESIGNED TO KILL. Know what you are getting into.

I wish my kids school offered a self defence class.... I think every HS should have self defence as part of the PE curriculum....

JMHO

Billy

I know a martial art. It has definitely come in handy a few times... But I'm pretty sure I can't execute it while on a bike. Time for some pepper spray and some verbal kung-fu.

Damn, OP. Bad story. To answer your question, no, not to the best of my knowledge..

Sooo...this extra-large box of Trojans that I bought isn'tgoing to help either?

Damn ragboy, next time be more specific when you recommend carrying protection.

ah, the old "your weapon will be used against you" argument. Which is why I don't bother to carry, I plan on using my attackers weapon .

Who said forced? Traveling in pairs might seem like common sense in certain areas and times of the day, but in the end, it's up to the person.

I use sex as my weapon.

Love is my battlefield.

No, but I definitely would take physical action if I did. My company recently terminated a guy when it later surfaced that he was previously convicted of raping a 14 year old girl riding her bike on the MUP. It makes me go nuts just thinking about it.