[marsrover]

It’s suspicious because it’s generally dangerous to walk around alone at night in large cities.

It also depends on the area, though. And I would also say just because you’re approached by the police doesn’t mean you’re being suspicious. I’ve been pulled over by police before just because they wanted to let me know it was a dangerous area (I wasn’t from the area).

Edit: I really hope that downvote came from a European or non-American. /s

As an American (and been here my entire life), what I posted above is very accurate to what I have observed.

Maybe in other parts of the country it’s different but in the cities I’m most intimate with (Atlanta, Memphis, Jackson), this is definitely the case.

[CalRobert]

"It’s suspicious because it’s generally dangerous to walk around alone at night in large cities."

I didn't downvote you, though I thought your comment really needed a citation.

However, it's also probably true, given how often people are killed by drivers at night. It depends on a lot on the city. Similarly the suburbs are pretty dangerous when you consider road deaths and not just violent crime (though in places with presumed liability, operating your car unsafely _is_ a crime).

When I lived in Santa Monica walking across Wilshire blvd. at night was especially dangerous (25 mph limit but people routinely went 45mph+), and pedestrians were (and are) killed on a regular basis. My understanding is at least one of the cities you named (Atlanta) is considered a poster child in how to design a city to be dangerous for walking.

However, if you've walked in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, etc. at night you'll know a large city can be a lovely place for a night stroll.

I am an American who has lived in the EU for 6 years, fwiw.

[ccozan]

This is very accurate. I've been approached by police twice in Miami, letting me know that I am entering a dangerous nieghbourhood - which I thought it was the city center.

Another time they didn't let me drive further, when they saw that we were a bunch of clueless europeans.

[mgoetzke]

So the no-go zones are actually in the US not in Europe ?

[cimmanom]

This only applies to cities where walking isn't a default way to get around. Walking around most parts of NYC is perfectly safe at night in part because the presence of other pedestrians deters crime.