DX-MAN

I live in the 'ghetto' in my town (or, I did, it's more the ghetto suburbs now); my complexion is pretty much the wrong one, for a lot of people. There are areas of town I won't ride through in daylight, much less after dark. I'm also big -- 6'1", 230+, and I've been told I look mean.

Lotta ghetto dwellers think I'm a plainclothes/undercover cop; in their minds, nobody else my complexion would ride the bike I do through 'their' hood. One older man, @ Wal-Mart, in a powered w/c, nodded to me and called me "Officer", kinda like he thought he was calling me out and exposing me. I laughed for 10 minutes!

Unless you can pull that off -- and @ 15, in Oakland, I doubt it -- steer clear of the 'zone'.

Mr Danw

Your mom's fears are justified...to her. You'll not likely change that. Your best bet is to listen to your mom. Life will be easier.

The Human Car

If your city has a bike planner ask them, as generally they are more aware of crimes that effect cyclists. The area south of me is supposed to be a "bad" neighborhood but I have never experienced anything. And in another part of town which is supposed to be better there are lots of bike-jackings and other junk that happens to cyclists. Crime maps specifically relating to cyclists can be a whole different animal.

Keith99

And remember the worst sections are apt to have glass and the causes of flats.

So far I have not noticed anyone asking the unPC question. What is your ethnic background and what is that of the triangle? I've been in bad areas in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Honolulu without any problems. Fair sized guy that does not dress to either extreme has alway sbeen more than enough to keep me safe. But those were generic bad places. There are parts of East L.A. where I've been told to never go after dark and never without a latino. Some places just being the wrong color is a disaster waiting to happen.

If you do decide to ride a route through any bad area be sure yuo know the alternate routes. If there is trouble ahead the last thing you want to do is stop to decide. You want to turn (likely right) and be elsewhere.

DRietz

I'm not that big. 5' 5", 108lbs, Caucasian male. And the area is occupied by a diverse level of races, but it is probably a majority of African Americans, or at least from what I see.

The thing about the flat raises a really good question, actually. I'm pretty sure that's what is probably going to make or break this for me, and I've been pondering that question for awhile now. I can change a tube pretty quick, but maybe not fast enough. I'll have to ponder this a little further, but I'll stop in at the LBS and ask about some routes or rides in the area.

They should know. Hopefully.

meanwhile

Speaking as someone who used to live opposite a project in San Fransisco with a crack dealership operating four days away - this is dangerous nonsense. If you're the wrong ethnic group in a deprived mono-ethnic neighbourhood it is impossible for you to look "like you belong there". And you will be a target for anyone who wants to make trouble or a little cash - not because the perpetrators will hate white people, but because they that as you're a stranger they won't risk the complications that come with hitting locals. (Which was why I was relatively safe near my house - people new my face and not to mess with me. Half a block away was riskier for me, even though it was a better- well, less awful - neighbourhood.)

chipcom 

Incorrect...speaking as someone who has not only lived in such neighborhoods, but worked in them as well.
You're so last century. Everyone is a potential target, but it's easy to look like you belong.

meanwhile

I have to say - I thought you were an idiot, but the fact that you can use an emoticon of a little laughing guy next to a reply that completely lacks any factual or logical content has totally changed my opinion of you. No, really.

Nor do I think that you're an idiot because you claim that your suggestions will make someone safe in every neighbourhood in America. Because everyone knows of the wonderful work done by the Bad Neighbourhood Stanardization Committee!

Really.

When that other guy wrote:

..He wasn't dissing your unique personal experience and knowledge of "the streets". Because you've had coffee/done some social work/whatever on a street where ot everyone was white. And that makes you an expert on every badland spot in all of the USA.

DRietz

Guys, the flaming doesn't need to occur. Seriously, I'm not above reporting my own thread. :dodgy:

chipcom 

You might want to take a chill pill, pal...there's drool coming out the side of your mouth.

keesue

This says it all. It's not about everything going right - it's about something going wrong and what you're gonna do when it does. It's like gambling. You put your life up on the line when you ride through danger. Now, you can get hit by a car in Beverly Hills. Odds? Slim. You can get capped going through the triangle. Odds? 300 kids shot dead in 2 years in the killing fields of Oakland and most were just standing in the wrong spot.

Bottom line: Gamble with something else. Capiche? Oh, and one last thing. When you ride through a bad neighborhood everyday, you get marked. Losers have nothing better to do than mark you. My dearest friend's son lost his life at 18 in a gas station in the triangle - pumping gas - at the same station he always pumped gas.

Lastly, don't pay attention to anyone who tells you its ok to do it. It's not their life that's on the line. People love to gamble with someone else's chips.

Ride for the enjoyment and not through the killing fields.

End of advice...

thehick

Sometimes I think about riding to work so I could up my weekly miles ridden. Then I think about the area I'd have to go thru, the time of morning and who would be out then. Nobody good except me. And that remark about others gambling with your chips...so true. I've had several folk tell me "you'll be ok". I doubt if they're even up at the hour I would be on the road.

and just one additional point: why do you think it's seen as a bad neighbourhood? if the people you associate with think so, it is. for them and you.

don't do it.

alicestrong

Here's a homicide map for Oakland...

It sounds pretty bad. 84 homicides this year?

keesue

Lest I be accused of being elitist: I grew up in the Fillmore district of San Francisco, went to Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA., and returned home to a killing zone. The combination of crack *******, cheap guns and ignorance simply devastated what were once bad neighborhoods into killing fields. War-torn is an apt descriptor. Heading up to grad school at night was a challenge.

You don't need me to tell you about da ghetto. You already know; hence the reason you asked. Said in ebonics: "Listen to your mama - she be tellin' you right".

And now the punch line: The thing about bullets is they have no judgment of their own - meaning - white, black or brown (for those that may have missed the point of it).

I'm out and peace be unto all y'all.

DRietz

Alright, so I've taken in your guys' advice. It is quite obviously a pretty bad place to ride through, and the whole thing about the flat tire statement has helped me make my final decision. I'm not going to do this ride, but something I should have consulted before I even posted here was the end of all ends. My google-fu is weak.

Google maps gave me two walking routes. My original 2.5 mile route, and an alternate 3.5 mile route. Maybe some of the local members can help me out here, but anyways, I'll get my brother to drive both of them and talk it over with my parents.

Again, thanks for all your guys' help. It all really did contribute to my final decision.

keesue

Good decision and smart for seeking advice. That will keep you safe in life.

kendall

Very good decision. An extra mile or two on a bike is nothing. I add miles all the time simply because the alternate route looks more enjoyabe, doing it for safety is fine.

Ken.

chipcom 

I kinda wondered how an alternative route would be so far out of the way...glad that you found reasonable alternatives.

Artkansas 

DRietz, a wise decision.

I used to live in some rough neighborhoods. In 5 years of riding, there were only two incidents, though. I was assaulted in both. I lost my bike in one and had to rebuild my bike from the frame up in the second. So the odds are that on any given day, nothing much will happen. But a bad day could be a very bad one.

zeo_max

So you're like Eminem riding his bike through 8 mile..........doesn't look good for you

DRietz

Except, I'm not a wangster. Thank you very much.

Yeah, I think my parents told me that route, to make it seem like it was the bad neighborhood or a billion extra miles. One extra mile is going to tack, what? Seven more minutes onto my ride?

chipcom 

Many of us who commute daily don't take the shortest route to/from work for a variety of reasons. It's not like you are wasting gas or polluting the air because of the longer route.

nelson249

Perhaps another good reason to use telfon tire liners and puncture resistant tubes.

nick burns

Ride fast.

alicestrong

...and die young...