I want to start commuting to work but.....
 

I live in Cherry Hill, NJ and work in Camden, NJ (which is the most dangerous place in NJ) and I want to start commuting to work. Cherry Hill is awesome but the 4 miles in Camden is sketchy.

What would you do?

I want to ride more and more since it is a 22 mile round trip which would be great. But I worry about the ride into Camden.

thoughts?

according to Mapmyride The simplest/fastest route to commute to work is through a neighborhood that would leave me with a bloody nose and no wallet or bike. I did the 2nd best thing, I used mapmyride to plan out routes, and then drove them in my truck to see if there were bike lanes, bridges, dangerous areas. Once I found one that was safe and satisfactory I started riding. If there is no getting around Camden then I don't know what to tell you. but if its just certain areas you can try to map around them like I did.

I live in St. Louis, statistically the most dangerous large city in the USA, and ride my bike around all the time. However, I try to avoid the worst neighborhoods completely, and the questionable ones after dark. I have no knowledge of Camden (other than it is statistically dangerous). Perhaps scoping out the ride in your car first is a good idea. Another would be to re-route around Camden or through the "better" parts. Or simply ride as fast as you can for those 4 miles and don't look at anyone...

I've also gone through E. St. Louis on my bike before with a friend (we made a wrong turn). While no one mugged us, we were practically stared out of town. Not something I would do again...

That is great that you are trying to make it work. I actually know the area quite well as I have family in Cherry Hill and I usually go there 2-3 time a year to visit. As other mentioned, try to find an alternate route to get to work. You might not be able to completely avoid the area but at least ride you will have somehow a peace of mind will commuting. I know it will be pretty hard but if you stay on the main street in Camden, you should be fine. My relatives used to live in Camden years ago. Things are pretty tough there but if you are cycling during the day, it should be safe.

good luck and cheers!!

Can you ride the safe part of the route and hop on some mass transit to get through the dangerous portion?

Use Google maps or other programs to explore alternative routes. Don't look for the shortest, fastest route but the safest one. If it's a little longer, that's more miles of training. I told myself for years that my commute route was too dangerous for cycling, until I started actually studying some maps and exploring alternative routes. I found several routes that are 2-3 miles longer than my driving commute, but have much less traffic and generally safer roads. I also invested in a good light system (head and tail lights) and some bright jerseys so I am very visible in traffic. Now I can't believe I wasted so many years driving when I could have been bike commuting.

This.

8 miles is still a good commute and then bus in the rest of the way. Maybe avoid the spandex - or - go the other direction and I bet they'll leave you alone.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/images/s...e_contact.jpeg
If I saw this guy on the bus I'd get off at the next stop!

Dear Chefsaac:

I live in Collingswood and bike to Philly. You can always take the PATCO which will take you through the worst parts of Camden. The Admiral Wilson Bouldivard is also sort of sketchy (especially under the underpasses). Best of luck on your decision to bike to work!

John

I grew up in SJ and lived in CH for several years. I agree, that avoiding the sketchy areas is difficult. (note to others: if the OP works downtown, there is no way to avoid sketchy areas). To the extent you avoid sketchy areas you probably trade it for high traffic. I think Admiral Wilson Blvd is your best bet, or ride to the PATCO Ferry avenue stop and take the train from there.

This is the liberal idealist in me talking, but I encourage you to take reasonable precautions and give it a go. Enough people doing this is the kind of thing that can make Camden a better place. By reasonable precautions I mean things like a generic bike, no Lycra, avoiding groups of people standing around, etc. Perhaps also vary your route and/or travel times.

Paul

When I rode through some mildly gang-infested parts of a city, I wore a Sherlock Holmes style deerstalker hat. The boys would call out stuff lie 'Oi Sherlock". I think being weird in a harmless sort of way defuses tension and reduces the challenge they perceive to their turf.

If you do decide to ride through potentially dangerous areas, get the most puncture-resistant tyres you can find.

There was another thread about being a hardcore commuter. Well from the perspective of a commuter in the Copenhagen area, the idea that someone has to plot a route that is safe from physical assault besides riding on the road with the usual monster SUVs is pretty amazing. Thats hardcore commuting.

I think that in the Copenhagen area, any person could bike anywhere at any time and be acceptably safe.

Dear Chefsaac:

I tried to send you this via private message, but it would not let me becuase I have fewer than 50 posts:

I live in Collingswood so I either take Haddon Avenue or the Admiral Wilson Boulivard. I actually do not ride on the road, there are sidewalks on both sides of the boulivard. My only concern is in the wintertime and it gets dark early. Drivers in Camden are not used to bikes so I avoid Haddon Ave. I am comfortable with the Boulivard if there is rush hour traffic. There are a few sketchy people who hang under the Baird Ave. underpass, but with lots of traffic I have never had a problem. Hope this has been helpful!
John