[dionidium]

> I will end by saying, as a guy, I have never had any problems from other people. In all my years walking all over. But that it is sadly very very different for women.

He's either only walking in exceptionally safe areas, he's very large, or I have a particularly punchable face. I biked every road in St. Louis a few years ago, which required biking every street in some high-crime neighborhoods. I was frequently made to feel uncomfortable. I was never attacked or anything like that, but multiple times it was made clear to me that I was where I didn't belong. And I was on a bike and could quickly ride away. I think I would have had a lot more trouble on foot.

I remember being in a bar once and some guy started trouble with me for no reason and my buddy, who is 6'3'' and 250 pounds did not believe that detail, because "nobody would start trouble with you for no reason." To paraphrase Don Draper, "no, nobody would start trouble with you for no reason."

[kendallpark]

I had a conversation with a cyclist who grew up in one of those "high crime neighborhoods" in St. Louis. He said that he received strange looks and comments when he visited his old neighborhood with a road bike attached to his car. He belonged; the bike did not. I suspect that more-than-casual cycling is a cultural oddity in some areas. I'm not sure that walking would garner the same reaction.

[lawkwok]

Whenever I see a bike in a car I assume the person has a lot of free time and therefore is somehow what well-off. Perhaps people were subconsciously judging his wealth?

[aerostable_slug]

I would invert your statement and posit you were riding in very dangerous areas. Most of the US is very safe compared to St. Louis, Chicago, Oakland, Richmond (CA), Detroit, Atlanta, etc.

Don't go to stupid places filled with stupid people doing stupid things and you'll likely be okay — and this includes bars after midnight just about anywhere. Nothing good happens after midnight, but I digress.

I agree with you that it was a good thing you were on a bike and I'm glad you're here to post about it!

[wenc]

I live in a downtown Chicago neighborhood. I would say that outside of certain neighborhoods, it’s pretty safe. I go for long walks all the time with no concerns. Time of day matters somewhat too. I rarely venture out after midnight.

I’m not a particularly imposing person but I grew up in a big city so I know how to navigate one. Less savvy people might have lower thresholds for safety.

[gautamcgoel]

I'm from Atlanta, and it's interesting to see ATL on this list. Does ATL have a reputation as a "rough" city? Not offended, just curious.

[creaghpatr]

Depending on the neighborhood YMMV, imagine that's the case for most of these cities.

[wenc]

I stayed in downtown ATL for a bit and it seemed pretty safe. It’s not a particularly rough city. Downtown isn’t particularly walkable though, with its 4 lane 1 way streets. I ended up driving a lot.

[ncmncm]

My son likes to relate what he has found going on in the world online.

But I have one injunction: I don't want to hear about stupid people being stupid. There is just an astounding amount of that, always has been, and everybody seems to want everybody else to know all about it, in detail.

[exhilaration]

Don't go to stupid places filled with stupid people doing stupid things and you'll likely be okay — and this includes bars after midnight just about anywhere. Nothing good happens after midnight, but I digress.

I see we both watch the same YouTube channel!

[gautamcgoel]

Which channel is that?

[cortesoft]

> I biked every road in St. Louis a few years ago, which required biking every street in some high-crime neighborhoods.

He is likely avoiding high-crime neighborhoods. There is a big gap between 'exceptionally safe' and 'high-crime' neighborhoods. Your average and even below average neighborhoods are likely safe for most walkers.

[ensignavenger]

I've done a lot of urban walking in a variety of towns. One time in a town much smaller and lower crime than St. Louis, I had a guy approach me and say "thanks for finding my phone-- give me my phone!" I was holding my own phone, and I ignored the comment and kept walking- at a brisker pace, and watching their actions very carefully. I am 90% sure I could have defended myself if he had attacked me. I'm a very average sized person, if I had been smaller who know what he would have done?

Any way, I agree, its best to always be alert and aware no matter where you are and be smart about where you walk, no matter what your gender presentation is. There are some crazy people in this world.

[devoutsalsa]

I’m a large man and rarely get harassed. But even I can get mugged by the cops in Mexico. When in doubt, stick to well lit paths.

[lupire]

Bike gets a stronger reaction than walking, especially on roads without bike lanes.

Bars have aggressive drunks.

[Handytinge]

I've walked around solo (and often at night due to jetlag from Australia) many countries - rich, poor, busy, deserted seeming.

Never have I felt as unsafe and unsure as in the US.

[perardi]

I am a huge advocate for walking, and I walk a lot, but there is a certain biased assumption of safety.

I live in Chicago. I live in a…oh…let’s say a gentrifying area of Chicago.

I can imagine it would be intimidating to walk around some of the areas near me if I was a woman, or presenting as female/non-binary, or even a smaller man. (The non-binary bit is not some empty bit of woke, it is also a very LGBT-heavy area of town.) It’s easy to advocate walking, and perhaps easy to shrug off alarmism about crime, when you’re not likely to be the target of harassment or criminality.

Fortunately for me, I am easily the most terrifying creature on the street at 4am, and can blithely walk 2 miles to get home when Uber prices spike to $40. https://imgur.com/a/QoTzQr6