Attn: North Philly Cyclists
07-06-09 | 05:31 PM
#26
*
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,876
Likes: 1
From: Baltimore
Bikes: https://velospace.org/node/18951
yeah, that happened on the corner i work on. unfortunately i saw a girl eat the asphalt from that fishing line. well, heard it first. she was really messed up.
then someone i knew posted it on here.
what sucks about philly, and most cities, is that there really isn't any telling what d-bag will lash out at you and where. the only reason i felt it necessary to post this was that it has been happening consistently and not everyone is as paranoid as i am when i ride, so unfortunately people tend to ride right into bad situations where bad people are waiting.
i've been-like other cyclists i know-dragged, slapped, harassed, run off the street, pinched between cars, etc. by motorists, but never pedestrians, probably because i never get close enough to people on foot for them to get near me. mace helps; i'd never carry a knife for fear of some dude wrestling it out of my hands and using it against me.
besides reading "beware" posts like this, the most helpful thing i've found is to avoid the streets you've had bad experiences on (obviously), ride as fast as you can at night (i don't ever really even stop or slow down at traffic lights up north, i usually will just go between cars) and act deaf. i never confront anyone, no matter how loud they are yelling at me. some dude called me the C-word last week cause he really was trying to yell some s*** at me and i wouldn't even look at him. it actually worked to my advantage, because it made him so incredibly mad he just started spewing incoherent words and phrases and i just continued on my way without even acknowledging him.
long story, but i don't think philly is any more ****ed up than other cities when it comes to aggressive people. although, North philly is a different city altogether--if you live up here, take an hour to watch the BBC doc Law and Disorder and you'll see what i mean, if you don't know already.
then someone i knew posted it on here.
what sucks about philly, and most cities, is that there really isn't any telling what d-bag will lash out at you and where. the only reason i felt it necessary to post this was that it has been happening consistently and not everyone is as paranoid as i am when i ride, so unfortunately people tend to ride right into bad situations where bad people are waiting.
i've been-like other cyclists i know-dragged, slapped, harassed, run off the street, pinched between cars, etc. by motorists, but never pedestrians, probably because i never get close enough to people on foot for them to get near me. mace helps; i'd never carry a knife for fear of some dude wrestling it out of my hands and using it against me.
besides reading "beware" posts like this, the most helpful thing i've found is to avoid the streets you've had bad experiences on (obviously), ride as fast as you can at night (i don't ever really even stop or slow down at traffic lights up north, i usually will just go between cars) and act deaf. i never confront anyone, no matter how loud they are yelling at me. some dude called me the C-word last week cause he really was trying to yell some s*** at me and i wouldn't even look at him. it actually worked to my advantage, because it made him so incredibly mad he just started spewing incoherent words and phrases and i just continued on my way without even acknowledging him.
long story, but i don't think philly is any more ****ed up than other cities when it comes to aggressive people. although, North philly is a different city altogether--if you live up here, take an hour to watch the BBC doc Law and Disorder and you'll see what i mean, if you don't know already.
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07-06-09 | 07:29 PM
#27
armchair touring
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
From: York, PA
how are all you people getting picked on so much?
are you seriously that visibly sketched out, or look really lost and scared?
i see the stand around types every day, but i dont get ****ed with half as much as i hear about other people, and never on my bike, and yes i am knocking on my wooden desk.
are you seriously that visibly sketched out, or look really lost and scared?
i see the stand around types every day, but i dont get ****ed with half as much as i hear about other people, and never on my bike, and yes i am knocking on my wooden desk.
It seems to me that everybody I knew has one of two experiences in Philly.
A: Philly is great to them, and everybody is smiley and happy and every day is an adventure with a positive ending.
B: Philly makes them afraid to leave their own house after dark or when school is letting out.
My good friend and I are both about 140 lbs soaking wet. He's from the San Francisco 'burbs, I'm from the Adirondacks. Not "hard" places at ALL. We look very similar. We both sport unusual thick framed glasses. We both dress about the same, Dickies, hoodie, sneakers, pretty normal.
He walks EVERYWHERE. In every neighborhood. At every time of night.
He's never once been mugged, followed, jumped, or even ever really called out or picked on.
Me, I ride EVERYWHERE. I became too afraid to walk around anymore. Every time I poked my head out of the front door I'm called a "f*g". I could barely walk to the store on the corner 1/4 of a block away without incident. I've had sticks jammed in my spokes, I've had bricks whizz by my face, I've been tackled off my bike, I've been followed for blocks walking late at night many times, until I had to start sprinting. Yes I was being followed, cause I'd start walking erratically (crossing streets, crossing again) and it would continue.
Once I was walking home from a medical study at TJU and had an $1100 check in my pocket. It was snowing bad. I had on a red Ortlieb messenger bag, was wearing a Flyers jacket and had my hands in my pocket. I was heading back to 6th & Reed. It was noon-ish. At 11th & Fitzwater this group of about five 14-16 year old boys started throwing snowballs and insults from across the street. Then they crossed to my side of the street and got closer and were now throwing recyclables, glass and cans.
Next thing I know I'm on my back in front of the Rite Aid at 11th & Catherine and I'm being stomped to a pulp. A big guy came running of of the pharmacy and yelled for them to leave me alone, they turned their heads and I jumped up and never stopped running until Washington Ave. They never checked my pockets or tried to mug me. They just wanted to see blood.
This was 11th & Catherine at noon. I challenge you to find a "safer" neighborhood in Philly outside of Center City.
Long story short, I find that for no calculable reason, Philly either works for you or it doesn't. Sadly for me it is a dismal and scary place that unfortunately all my best friends live in. They keep me coming back.
Personally, I think of Philly as an abusive spouse. You know it's bad for you, you know it doesn't really love you back, but it's so convenient, and God, the good time's sure are great. But the bad times are very very bad. Somehow you convince yourself it's your fault, and you just need to "carry yourself" better. Besides, you'd never be able to make it in a city like Portland or SF. I guess I should go back...
My best wishes to everyone in this thread who's thinking about moving there, and like I said, if it'll work for you, you'll love it.
Last edited by whoosh!; 07-06-09 at 07:37 PM.
07-07-09 | 08:12 AM
#28
Banned.
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 994
Likes: 1
From: philly
how are all you people getting picked on so much?
are you seriously that visibly sketched out, or look really lost and scared?
i see the stand around types every day, but i dont get ****ed with half as much as i hear about other people, and never on my bike, and yes i am knocking on my wooden desk.
are you seriously that visibly sketched out, or look really lost and scared?
i see the stand around types every day, but i dont get ****ed with half as much as i hear about other people, and never on my bike, and yes i am knocking on my wooden desk.
07-09-09 | 10:42 PM
#36
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Philly
Bikes: custom fuji conversion, land shark pursuit
A little about my self:
I've lived in philly my whole life. I was born and raised in north philly (g-town represent !) and love every part of my neighborhood. When I was 11 I moved to 15th and Fitzwater (almost south philly) where I've lived ever since (mind you I'm a teenager).
When your from philly (like me) and you've been going to bed to sirens, fireworks, and gun shots your whole life, you get used to it. It can even be comforting at times (COMFORTING, YES!). I went to public school from pre-k to 3rd grade, and again in high school.
How I see it:
You wont get robbed or picked on or followed if you don't make bad choices. Most importantly, don't be loud. I don't mean literally loud (while that does help), but look at your self in the mirror and think about where you are.
Are you wearing skinny jeans? yes
Are you in north philly? yes
Is every other person calling you a f ag? yes
then don't call yourself a victim.
To be fair, I understand why its hard for someone of a more rural or more relaxed environment to get used to the philly lifestyle. When your not born to show no fear, you will show fear. Not everyone is cut for the streets.
Another part of philly that no one really cared to touch on is the racism. Every neighborhood has its own. While this is a gross over simplification its kinda like this. North Philly is predominantly black. Whites are very much a minority. People love to pick on minorities when they know they have people to back them up. And if your white, you'll get hated on, hard. Just cause your white, and especially if your loud. There I said it.
Also, the north east is also racist, but the table is switched, as is parts of south philly (two street)
The last thing I want to touch on is that philly really isn't awful. It's actually a really nice city with lots to offer. Of course there's room for improvement (a lot of our streets need to be paved over), but over all its nice. I enjoy living here and will always call it my home.
I've lived in philly my whole life. I was born and raised in north philly (g-town represent !) and love every part of my neighborhood. When I was 11 I moved to 15th and Fitzwater (almost south philly) where I've lived ever since (mind you I'm a teenager).
When your from philly (like me) and you've been going to bed to sirens, fireworks, and gun shots your whole life, you get used to it. It can even be comforting at times (COMFORTING, YES!). I went to public school from pre-k to 3rd grade, and again in high school.
How I see it:
You wont get robbed or picked on or followed if you don't make bad choices. Most importantly, don't be loud. I don't mean literally loud (while that does help), but look at your self in the mirror and think about where you are.
Are you wearing skinny jeans? yes
Are you in north philly? yes
Is every other person calling you a f ag? yes
then don't call yourself a victim.
To be fair, I understand why its hard for someone of a more rural or more relaxed environment to get used to the philly lifestyle. When your not born to show no fear, you will show fear. Not everyone is cut for the streets.
Another part of philly that no one really cared to touch on is the racism. Every neighborhood has its own. While this is a gross over simplification its kinda like this. North Philly is predominantly black. Whites are very much a minority. People love to pick on minorities when they know they have people to back them up. And if your white, you'll get hated on, hard. Just cause your white, and especially if your loud. There I said it.
Also, the north east is also racist, but the table is switched, as is parts of south philly (two street)
The last thing I want to touch on is that philly really isn't awful. It's actually a really nice city with lots to offer. Of course there's room for improvement (a lot of our streets need to be paved over), but over all its nice. I enjoy living here and will always call it my home.
