Do you feel this is safe?

[raruss1]

I have been stuggling with this problem for a while now and thought I would get your thoughts as a 'sanity check'.
Here is my situation: I love to ride and explore on the rural roads in my county. This means roads that meander though remote areas that may not have a house for miles and you may see a car every 10 minutes or so.

I dont know anybody to ride with so I go alone.

Would you ride alone in a situation like this?
Am I taking foolish risk?

Thanks

[indysteel]

I ride out in the country alone, too. It's generally not quite that remote, but it's not exactly populated either. I try to minimize the risk by carrying a cell phone, having the gear needed to fix a flat and telling someone where I'm going. I suppose I could carry pepper spray or the like, too.

Wherever your ride and with whom, there's risk involved. We can minimize and prepare for those risks, but we can't really eliminate them. I think I stand a greater chance of getting hit by a car than getting attacked on some country road so it doesn't bother me too much. I'm actually more afraid of stray dogs than anything! I've perfected the art of yelling "Back" at the top of my lungs.

[Sprocket's Mom]

Call me daring, call me irresponsible, call me stupid, I don't care....I love riding rural roads by myself. As long as I have my phone with me, I'm no worse off than when I'm in my car by myself. Stay alert, don't talk to guys who have a "puppy" or "candy" in the car....unless it's chocolate:rolleyes: (chocolate lab puppies take careful consideration)....
Usually common sense takes pretty good care of me.:p

[vermonster]

I ride alone most of the time and ride rural areas (though maybe not as remote as what you're describing). I never feel "unsafe" when I'm out for a ride, but my mom (and several other relatives) really worry about me out riding alone in places where there aren't a whole lot of people around. I think it's probably one of those things where if you just don't feel safe about it or if you're uncomfortable with it---don't do it. I don't even think twice about it and I just go (cuz the alternative is not riding and that's just not an option I care to think about)----but if you have concerns about it, go with your gut.

[raruss1]

It is reassuring to hear your responses. After being told I am stupid by freinds and family it started to bother me.
I do carry a cellphone and tools.
I also have a can of Halt! Dog Repellent (http://www.amazon.com/Halt-Dog-Repellent-1-5-oz/dp/B000AOA420/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1208375952&sr=8-1) which I have not needed but it is reassuring to have for dogs of multiple species :D

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I keep some pepper spray on my frame where I can grab it, plus a cell phone with me. And always tell someone where you are going to ride that day. If you live alone, leave a note on your kitchen table as to where you are riding.
If you encounter anything remotely suspicious, pedal in the other direction immediately rather than being afraid to look 'foolish' by turning around.

[SouthernBelle]

That's my favorite kind of riding. Carry a cell.

[CyclaSutra]

Or take a self-defense class if you worry about being 'napped. The first summer I lived out in Wyoming (11 years ago) a woman disappeared while running alone on a rural route. Her husband's name has been cleared officially, but most people here still think he did it. This is why I'm not printing her name.

But I was 22 and scared, so I got a dog for a hiking companion (and cause I like dogs). Her body's never been found. Now that I'm older, and nothing like that has happened since anywhere in the vicinity, and I have a self-defense class under my belt, I never worry about being attacked by a person. Bear, cougar, yes, crazy person, no. I've also read "The Gift of Fear," a fabulous book about listening to your intuition, as Bleecker referred to. It will freak you out for a week or so, but you'll feel better after reading it. There's also very, very little random crime here (one instance per decade?) which is why we think her husband killed her. :mad:

[rij73]

Stay alert, don't talk to guys who have a "puppy" or "candy" in the car....unless it's chocolate :rolleyes: (chocolate lab puppies take careful consideration)....

Sorry... but I just have to say that's the funniest thing I've read today!

[Geonz]

If you're where there are many people, it's far more likely one of 'em will be a bad guy :)

I ride alone very often. I see people now and then out there. They wave. Okay, one guy was prob'ly schnokkered and said "hey, young LADY!" ... in a completely surprised, not leering voice, so I think he was just amazed that I wasn't a guy, and of course by the time he processed that bit of information I was another mile down the road.

When driver's have been aggressive at me, it's been in town, not out in the boonies... tho' I do feel vulnerable. I am not going to let that vulnerability control my life, at least not today. I think of all the other people who are even more vulnerable on the planet - women who have to go to dangerous jobs, are working for nasty people who have power over them... some of 'em making hte products I've bought. Or I think about how many miles I have to go and plot when I"m going to hit which corner and try to beat it.

(And the bad stuff is awfully rare. I did 10,000 miles last year and maybe four times somebody did something *potentially* obnoxious/harmful.)

[Melalvai]

I was hiking in the woods one afternoon and I stood aside so a group of older folks on horseback could make their way past me on the trail. One lady said, "You're so brave to be out here by yourself."

The only crime I'd heard of in those woods was a young lady who committed suicide, way over on the other side of the park. We've had I don't know how many shootings make the news in town recently, and who knows how many crimes that are too mundane to make the news. In fact if she'd killed herself in her dorm we wouldn't have heard about it at all.

[uforgot]

I do it all the time and our rural gravel roads are as remote as they get! It's beautiful, peaceful and some of my best rides.

[Starfish]

I do it.

There are some areas where I would like to go, but they are known to be infested with meth folks and folks hostile to cyclists, and I haven't gone there alone, yet.

I'm thinking of getting a little .380 I saw...super small, super light.

[mimitabby]

I was walking down an alley in Pioneer Square, Seattle (downtown) and some men saw me and said; "aren't you afraid to be alone here?" to which I responded, "no, not really"

City, Country, have common sense and have fun.

[Flybye]

I ride alone, too. Pretty much all we have around here are rural back country roads. There is nothing like riding next to fields of corn, open fields, or Russian Olives. I have taken a women's self defense class but I don't know how much I would remember if push came to shove. I carry pepper spray with me on my handlebars. I always let someone know where I am going and approximately when I will be back. I always carry my cell phone. Other than that, it's in the hands of the good Lord to get me home safely!

[SlowButSteady]

I just got back from 21 miles alone on rural roads. On many rides, I meet or get passed by less than one car per mile or two.

I have a route that I love and I can ride this distance without ever being more than 6 or 7 miles' walk from home in case of a flat, mechanical problem, etc. I take a cell phone and pepper spray.

I'm much more afraid of crashing because I'm a klutz than anything else. Every once in a while I fall off but have never had to call DH to come pick me up.

Every once in a while some dumb redneck yells something at me.

Once when out running on these old backroads, a man stopped, got out of his car and walked around it *at* me.

I made ready to dismember him with my cell phone, which was the only thing I had with me at the time. Fortunately, I didn't have to defend myself.

I now remember to take my pepper spray.

[cyclinnewbie]

This may be counterintuitive, but I feel more ill at ease in crowds. Get me in Seattle, and I'm more uptight, feeling less in control. Get me out in the boonies, and I'm far far more comfortable. I always carry some pepper spray, and my hubby got me a small maglight that I can use for a weapon if needed. Add in my cell phone and my brains, and I feel pretty good. I also ALWAYS listen to my intuition...if something doesn't feel right, I turn around and go a different way. Also, my hubby, who is highly trained in defensive tactics, has schooled me in some self defense moves, so that does a lot to boost one's confidence. I would prefer to ride in solitude in the boonies....you can relax more and enjoy the scenery!

[OakLeaf]

Nowadays I feel naked without my phone.

But back in the day (when random crime was actually a bit more common than it is now) I toured for two weeks at a time, solo, before there was such a thing as cell phones. I'm still here.

One of the many benefits of being out on the road on a bicycle is being away from the freakin' TV that's telling us 24/7 how much danger we're in all the time.... and how we need to stay at home in front of the TV to be safe....

[redrhodie]

I have been stuggling with this problem for a while now and thought I would get your thoughts as a 'sanity check'.
Here is my situation: I love to ride and explore on the rural roads in my county. This means roads that meander though remote areas that may not have a house for miles and you may see a car every 10 minutes or so.

I dont know anybody to ride with so I go alone.

Would you ride alone in a situation like this?
Am I taking foolish risk?

Thanks

Are you taking a foolish risk--no.

Are you taking a risk--yes.

You should be able to ride on an isolated road without any problems (in a perfect Utopia). Unfortunately, we live in a crime ridden society. I've witnessed a violent attack, and I've been the victim of an armed robbery where I was tied up along with all of my coworkers. It's not all tv hype. Once when I did jury duty, they polled the potential jurors with the question of who has been the victim of a crime, or known someone who was the victim of a crime, and every single person (about 100 people) raised their hands.

Trust your gut. If you don't feel safe, don't do it. I think someone else suggested self defense training, and I second that. Empower yourself with more than the thought that nothing bad can ever happen.

[Zen]

This may be counterintuitive, but I feel more ill at ease in crowds. Get me in Seattle, and I'm more uptight, feeling less in control. Get me out in the boonies, and I'm far far more comfortable.

Same here. Except substitute the generic "town" for the Seattle part.

I think the jury's in.

[Tuckervill]

It's not all tv hype. Once when I did jury duty, they polled the potential jurors with the question of who has been the victim of a crime, or known someone who was the victim of a crime, and every single person (about 100 people) raised their hands.

That's a pretty broad question, though, depending on what your definition of "crime" is. A bunch of little kids opened the door on my car and stole all my change, and then came into the Wendy's where I was working and bought food with it. Was it a crime? Yes. Was I a "victim"? eh?

I can't imagine anyone who has never ever had something taken from them in some way or another. All "victims" of crime. But it is a matter of degree.

You're right...what risk are you willing to take? What's the benefit of taking the risk? We all have to decide that for ourselves.

If I didn't ride on rural roads, I wouldn't be able to ride at all.

Karen

[Jolt]

This may be counterintuitive, but I feel more ill at ease in crowds.

Same here!

[Torrilin]

Would I ride alone? Yes. Is it a foolish risk? Maybe.

Being attacked doesn't worry me much. That can happen anywhere, at any time, and there is very little you can do to prevent an attack by a stranger. There is stuff you can do to make yourself a nasty target *g* but that doesn't prevent the attack. It does up your odds of surviving, which I'm all in favor of.

The reason riding alone worries me is pretty simple. If you have an accident or other medical emergency, your best chance for survival is to reach medical care within 1 hour. The faster you get treatment, the better. So if you're more than 30 minutes from the nearest hospital, it is a good idea to be cautious. It's very doable to get far enough out on a bike that cell phone coverage is spotty and EMTs can't get to you easily, and the nearest hospital is far away. Then I would *definitely* want a buddy or two and some first aid refresher courses.

One of my adopted uncles had a heart attack while out deer hunting in the mountains. He ended up hiking off the mountain to get help, alone. He was *very* lucky to make it at all. These days, he's more careful about the buddy system.

Don't get paralyzed by fear tho. Just take sensible precautions. If you're always within 30 minutes of a hospital, make sure people know when to expect you back. If you are going further out, bring a cell phone and check how well it works. Have a plan for the most likely emergencies (it's amazing how much good a space blanket, enough water and a rain jacket can do). A lot of the precautions for an attack by a stranger will be helpful in a medical emergency too.

[Aggie_Ama]

Do I ride alone? Yes. Is it foolish? Maybe.

Some of the roads are rural and I feel less in danger of a human attack but more worried about dogs (no leash laws in the rural areas) or wrecking on my own and being without help. I find the residents in the country areas wave and are pretty pleasant. City motorists are cranky. If I ride alone I tell someone my exact route, how long it should take me and call if I have an issue. I usually stick to routes I am familar with when I am riding alone.

[madisongrrl]

I ride alone for hours at a time in rural areas....

As previously stated:
1. Bring pepper spray.
2. Bring a cell phone
3. Self-defense knowledge is a good thing.

Additionally:
4. Bring enough tools to reasonably fix your bike/flats and have the know how to do it.
5. Get a road ID. If someone hits me and I end up dead/injured in country ditch, at least the police can notify my husband quickly instead of spending lots of time trying to figure out who I am.

Another cool thing is a product called the spot. It's one of the most affordable gps emergency devices out there. http://www.findmespot.com/Home.aspx

[Trekhawk]

When I lived in the States I would ride alone 90 percent of the time and because of where we lived it was pretty isolated riding a lot of the time. As one of the other girls mentioned it was dogs more than humans that worried me. Now we are back in Aust I pretty much do all my rides on my own and again after about 10 mins riding I can be out in the boonies (dogs again are my main concern).

Could I be attacked? Well I guess so but I could I be attacked in my own home ? Well apparently that happens a lot more than I would like to think on.

So I prepare as much as I can.
I have a road id with all my info and contact numbers on it including my folks as my husband is away a lot.
I always let someone know where I am going. This might mean ringing family or friends if DH is away.
I carry a mobile phone but I must say the reception can be hit and miss.

I think trusting your gut is good if a situation looks dicey get out of there.

[sundial]

I ride alone too. I love riding along the tall corn stalks, the fields of soybeans, and watching wild mink play tag. I think there is a risk with any ride. I try to be prepared by carrying my cell phone, SPOT, concealed weapon permit with gun of choice, Road ID, and plenty of water and snacks.

[katluvr]

. Stay alert, don't talk to guys who have a "puppy" or "candy" in the car....unless it's chocolate:rolleyes: (chocolate lab puppies take careful consideration)....
:p

That is sooooooooooo funny! I don't own one, but I do love chocolate labs and they are irresitable!
I needed a good smile/laugh at this time of the day on a Friday when I cannot wait to escape!
I know...I digress from the thread. So to get back to the thread....isn't this why cell phones were made? So we could go where we want be alone if we want? Yet be safe! Sounds like a great thing!

[shootingstar]

When I lived in Toronto (several million people), I commuted solo from suburbs into downtown via ravine park system or another route that was bike path, park, blended with less ravine park, etc. I would start these work commute rides at approx. 6:30 am.

I did it for nearly 10 years, nearly everyday except for winter when I stopped cycling. I lived in a rougher area of town...known for drugs, whatever. On bike, it's being safe with cars around in traffic. You are after all, not a jogger who would be far more vulnerable (and slower).

My thoughts:
*if you ride in isolated areas...vary routes.
*become a strong rider on hills and in speed. For work-commuting, it's never leisurely for me anyway. Especially going to work.
*I don't mountainbike in this areas. Wherever possible, smooth roads /paths to give me speed.

*Did I see/experience stuff? Well, over the years:
-yea, once police were around to pull out something from bushes...
-a burnt-out car/bus on a quiet road. ARson...yep. But this did not freak me out.....I worked for the fire marshal's office...to know that arson....doesn't mean someone is out to hurt a person, just the property.


If I have a choice of safety in quiet areas....most certainly I feel safer as a cyclist speeding along vs. being a pedestrian/jogger.

From the car-less shootingstar....where living in a nicer area still ...there are drug grow-ops even in nice buildings. Crime can be in unexpected places.

[Starfish]

concealed weapon permit with gun of choice

And what choice is that right now? I'm used to a heavier .45 or a shotgun for home, but a friend of mine has one of these (http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=83344), and it is quite small and quite light. Feel free to PM your response. Thanks!

[sundial]

That's one of my choices. :) Fits perfectly in the jersey pocket without advertising.

[OakLeaf]

7.2 oz in a jersey pocket? Wouldn't fit in mine! My 3.3 oz phone is a lot.

And wouldn't you have to put it in a ziploc bag... kind of defeating the purpose?

[latelatebloomer]

I'm a solo country road rider, too. I did decide last year that I would like to have a cell phone with me, it has my emergency numbers under "ICE" and also the numbers of a few neighbors who are home during the day.

I think it is good to vary your route - and good for your training, anyway.

And I stay alert - twice, vans have passed me and stopped, as if waiting for me to pass them. I turned and headed the other way. Most likely they were just folks lost on our confusing back roads, but my intuition said to keep away.

When I head out, I always say a little prayer/blessing - Ride strong, ride safe.

[Trek420]

Trust your gut, if it feels unsafe .... it probably is. Ride safe, ride strong, ride anyway :cool:

+1 on self defense classes if you feel you need one and have a good instructor nearby. Ask your local PD ro reccommend one.

I feel strongly that anything we do to make us feel confident, self aware, strong IS self defense. Run, swim, rollerblade .... it all counts. After over 25 years of martial arts training IMHO nothing makes you bullet-proof :rolleyes: so let's just try not to do anything foolhardy.

Be safe, be aware, use common sense .... and ride. 'Cause if we don't they win. Ride to erase fear.

I have no desire to use my training again and I think you'll find most MA students feel the same way; we'd do anything to avoid "using it" and always as a last resort. It's not why we train.

If I feel I may be in a dicey area I sometimes carry a knife. Folded it fits nicely and unobtrusively into a Ibex jacket breast pocket, unfolded it slips into the back of my left glove.

I don't know how nor have any desire to learn to handle a gun. :o I'm pretty good with a knife, here, hand me that head of garlic, some tomato, a few onions, some cilantro ... I'll make salsa! :D

But again, I hope and pray that I never use what I know.

[Aggie_Ama]

Sundial- You confirmed what I suspected, that cyclists are sometimes packing. My DH and I debated this once. ;)

[SouthernBelle]

Something can happen to you anywhere, rural or urban. But my gut says it's more likely to be in an urban area.

[Starfish]

7.2 oz in a jersey pocket? Wouldn't fit in mine! My 3.3 oz phone is a lot.

And wouldn't you have to put it in a ziploc bag... kind of defeating the purpose?

This thing is small. It fits. And, even if you did want to put it inside something, the couple of seconds it would take to free it would be a lot shorter than the 20 minutes or half hour, depending on where you are, for a sheriff to show up after a cell phone call (and that can be an optimistic response time in some areas where I ride, which I know from experience).

[Trek420]

There are a few of us here who've experienced simply reaching for the phone, some even miming that you're calling or about to take a picture (cell phones are so small these days who can see that you actually have one in hand :rolleyes:) and someone leaves who you'd like to leave.

I've used mine to send myself a txt message of a plate of an aggressive driver and once .... of a very polite truck driver I wanted to commend to the company he works for :D

[alpinerabbit]

I remain with the opinion that neither a gun, knife of pepper spray will protect you. Much rather it will be used against you or cause an accident.

Ride as if you own the road. Anything else, you can't control it.

[Trek420]

Ride as if you own the road. Anything else, you can't control it.

I agree, best to be alert (the world needs more 'lerts :rolleyes:), aware, trust your gut instincts. I don't recommend carrying weapons of any sort nor is it possible to cover every situation that could occur.

I just try to live the best I can in a spirit of non-violence, protecting others (even potential opponents/attackers), diffusing confrontation. It's a difficult goal in a violent world but one worth striving for.

But I gotta go, I'm off to train with this gal, my teacher of these 25 years ;)

[KnottedYet]

I've seen Trek flinging folks around in a protective, respectful, and non-violent manner.

I want her with me on rides! :D

[Harley]

I agree with Alpine Rabbit. Weapons give false security.

I live in rural areas. I have ridden, hiked, x-c skied alone for years, never had a problem. The solitude is wonderful, one of the reasons you take up a solo sport.

Use common sense.
Tell someone where you are going and when you'll return.
Carry ID (I have all my contact info on a card in my saddlebag)
Be prepared with tools, water, first aid kit, and knowledge.
Turn around if you feel unsafe, listen to your gut.
I carry a cell phone, but it doesn't work in most areas.

Enjoy the ride!... I did almost hit a deer the other day and a huge golden eagle was circling, sizing me up on a slow uphill slog.:eek:

[OakLeaf]

... and choose a cell phone that works in more areas.

That means a phone with analog capability (yes, still - the carriers now have the green light to phase out analog, but many rural areas are served by only one digital protocol or even none). And definitely no PCS phones.

[SouthernBelle]

Enjoy the ride!... I did almost hit a deer the other day and a huge golden eagle was circling, sizing me up on a slow uphill slog.:eek:

Are you sure it wasn't a buzzard? ;)

[Trek420]

I've seen Trek flinging folks around in a protective, respectful, and non-violent manner.

I want her with me on rides! :D

Thanks dear :)

And as you can see from the image above, Aikido also helps you cycling, I know how to fall off the bike (in theory) :rolleyes: I want Knott to put me back together if I take a high-fall like that :p

But seriously I have no desire to ever "use it". I've had two such occaisions and both times I was ok, bad guy not hurt but verbatim both said "I'm sorry :(, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry ...." one while running the other way. :cool:

I have no desire for a 3rd.

Trust your gut. If the situation feels odd...it probably is. Don't be ashamed to stop and just head another direction ...... and get out and ride!

[Harley]

...no, not a buzzard, I wasn't dead yet, it was a golden eagle :o

On cell phones... in mountainous areas I haven't found a service yet that is consistent. Analog is no longer available in Northern Washington, I had to switch. But it's still a comfort carrying one, I know where I have to crawl to to get service.

Used to carry a pistol on my Harley, never had to use it... but if I lived in a city, like some of you, I may have a change of heart and start packin' again.

[cyclinnewbie]

Weapons give false security.

:

I'd have to disagree (respectfully, of course ;)) I was in one situation where my weapon was what got me out and alive. I always have a little something with me now. Not a gun, even though I have my permit and I'm a darned good shot....just something I can use to get me enough time to get away. Having said that, though, I do not depend on my weapon of choice, I depend on my gut and my head, and my darned legs to pedal me the heck away!!! Or run, if need be, but I'm a better peddeler than runner...

[sundial]

Weapons give false security.

With the meth addicts around, I'm not going to take a chance that I'll become victim. Since I can't pack a policeman around, I'll carry my .45.

[crazycanuck]

I'm not sure how to put this a nice way but i'll give it a shot...(no pun intended)

I realize this is an American based board but please realize that even the mention of carrying a gun whilst biking is scaring the sheepies out of me :( . I know it's your "right" but a gun on a bike? I don't get it.

[lph]

ayh, me too, gives me the heebie-jeebies.... up here in my protected corner of the world. But I can't really imagine riding someplace where people around me might be carrying guns either.

This thread did remind me that it might be an idea to keep my cell phone on me where I can actually get hold of it easily, and not crammed into my impossible-to-open-under-seat-bag. If I wake up crumpled in the bushes with a headache I might not want to move around too much to call for help.

[Tuckervill]

I'm not sure how to put this a nice way but i'll give it a shot...(no pun intended)

I realize this is an American based board but please realize that even the mention of carrying a gun whilst biking is scaring the sheepies out of me :( . I know it's your "right" but a gun on a bike? I don't get it.

I'm an American and it scares me, too!

But I do get it. What it all boils down to for me--I don't own a gun and never will, and I was an expert marksman in the Army. But, I don't want to live in a society where only the government is allowed to have weapons. I'm just sayin'.

Karen

[sundial]

I realize this is an American based board but please realize that even the mention of carrying a gun whilst biking is scaring the sheepies out of me :( . I know it's your "right" but a gun on a bike? I don't get it.

CC, I really do understand and empathize with your position on handguns. I remember as a kid jumping on my bike and riding anywhere and staying out until dark thirty and not having to worry about pedophiles, kidnappers, and rapists. It's sad that things have changed so much--for the worse. Around here, women are getting mugged in the Wal-Mart parking lot. A Barnes & Noble had an armed robbery at high noon. Meth addicts are breaking in and stealing whatever they can to pawn for cash. And with the rise in addictions to pornography, crimes against women have increased exponentially. I don't want to be another statistic. :(

[Trek420]

I'm with Tuck, I agree that people have a right to bare arms ;) but I have a healthy respect for and positively fear of guns. I won't own one, nor will I have one in my house.

I'm also not sure there was less crime when I was a kid. There were pedophiles, rapists, addicts etc. I think we were less aware of it. :(

I think we need a healthy balance as women of taking normal precautions, using common sense and sometimes I think this "be afraid, very afraid" message keeps women down. Is it meant to do that? I'm not sure.

But you say "Trek, you're a 2nd degree black belt, in training for 3rd, it's different for you"

No, it's not.

As a martial artist I train for that 'ah hah! :)" moment of "oh,it's supposed to be my other left foot". I try to get one technique right every class. Really. It's fun, essential part of my physical training and part of my eclectic spiritual practice. I don't train to be the biggest baddest Mo Fo on the block. People come to MA for a variety of reasons including that, few last long with that attitude :rolleyes:. Most find other satisfactions from training, drop out the moment they get 1st degree black belt .... or just leave.

I will say this. I believe in avoiding confrontation, escalation or dangerous situations at all costs. On the other hand I hope this is true of me that if an unavoidable conflict occurred .... I'd either win or there's going to be enough pieces of him on me that there's going to be an airtight case based on DNA evidence. :o

But let's just not get into that situation in the first place shall we?

Now, get out there and RIDE!

[sundial]

I believe in avoiding confrontation, escalation or dangerous situations at all costs.

I think that's the key here. Be alert, be safe, and be reactive.

[Grog]

And with the rise in addictions to pornography, crimes against women have increased exponentially. I don't want to be another statistic. :(

Do you have any stats on that??? An "exponential" increase is a REALLY big increase.

(There are slightly different - and really maddening - realities going on in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, but I don't think that's what we're talking about here.)

I don't want women to live in fear, especially when it's not warranted.

As far as I know, women are still a lot more likely to suffer from domestic abuse than from random violence, in the USA as in Canada.

[sundial]

Grog, I pm'd you. :)

[stacie13]

I ride mostly on a highway, but there isn't a huge amount of traffic. Cell phones are a no-go in my area (the boonies), I just let my hubby know where I am heading out and if I'm not back in x-amount of hours, come looking! I am more concerned about wildlife (bears) than kooky humans, though you really never know about humans either sometimes... it's good to keep your eyes open!

I never really worry, but I also have family/friends telling me I'm crazy for riding alone. Hey, I'd rather be out on the road than in a gym! :)

[RoadRaven]

Well... just adding my voice to those others saying ride where you want with sense...

I live in the country, my commute to work takes me to the edge of a town - so almost all my training rides and commuting trips are on country roads. I mostly ride on my own also.

My precautions - always carry a cell phone which is always on and ready to use. I always tell someone where I am going and when I expect to get there - and then ring them once I arrive...