Woman cyclist missing on Silver Comet Trail

[Cindyloo]

I have always felt pretty safe there too and I guess I still do since people also disappear from their homes, malls, etc. The area that she put in is very populated and is right near a Publix shopping center but as you get out about 20 miles it becomes a little more rural, crosses a couple of small dirt roads, passes a water treatment plant, and wooded areas. It also passes behind many houses along the way.

It just makes me nauseous when I read stories like this....

[cherinyc]

The area that she put in is very populated and is right near a Publix shopping center but as you get out about 20 miles it becomes a little more rural, crosses a couple of small dirt roads, passes a water treatment plant, and wooded areas. It also passes behind many houses along the way.

Hi Deb - I understood from what Cindyloo was saying above, that the trail was a mix of areas - some populated, some not. My bf made a good point saying that (since the news says Jennifer rode this same route 3x/week) someone could've known about her routine - and was waiting for her at a certain desolate spot where they could strike w/o being seen or heard.
Often, the people who commit these types of crimes are very good at planning/strategizing their attacks.

[Nanci]

I've had scary encounters on three of the four trails I ride on. I don't know what the solution is. All of them are in populated areas, with roads very nearby (adjacent to, in sight of) the trail.

http://tinyurl.com/k94b9

This incident (only time I ever rode without a helmet- now have figured out how to get my hat under it- so you don't need to comment on that!) took place after I quit riding on another trail after I had a scary incident with a couple big teenagers (who were probably only thinking of robbery, not murder).

The creepy guy never confronted me, never harmed me or anyone that I know of, and I continue to see him at various points along this 46 mile trail, including within a couple miles of the isolated parking lot. I am still very unnerved by and very afraid of him.

[cherinyc]

Nanci - I always see on your avator (anyone know what that stands for?) that your location is North Central Florida. I spent most of my life in FL - Boca Raton, then Tallahassee, then St Augustine. I am curious about where you are referring to. Gainsville maybe?

[Nanci]

Alachua. I work in Gainesville. How could you leave???

I am from MN, lived in CA for a year (HATED IT!!!) and went back to MN, then moved here for cave diving. I love it here.

[Eden]

Nanci - I always see on your avator (anyone know what that stands for?)

Its a word with an interesting past. The original meaning of an avatar is a physical manifestation of a god in the Hindu religion (generally as a human or animal). Somewhere in the early days of computers someone decided that it would be a good word to describe the little icon that a person chooses to represent themselves in the machine world. A lot of computer terms have been swiped from religion/mythology - deamon, sprite, avatar - I'll bet you could name a lot more.

[tulip]

Its a word with an interesting past. The original meaning of an avatar is a physical manifestation of a god in the Hindu religion (generally as a human or animal). Somewhere in the early days of computers someone decided that it would be a good word to describe the little icon that a person chooses to represent themselves in the machine world. A lot of computer terms have been swiped from religion/mythology - deamon, sprite, avatar - I'll bet you could name a lot more.

COOL! Thanks!

[cherinyc]

http://www.11alive.com/news/news_art...?storyid=82582

Everyone stay safe!
cheri

[mimitabby]

Don't assume that criminal types have no bike skills, some of them use bikes as their only conveyance. My recently departed nephew was one of those.
He used to ride at night wearing black clothing to burgle houses to feed his crack habit. However, he was not violent.
I guess what i'm saying is don't assume criminals aren't comfortable on bikes.