Do you feel this is safe?

[Trek420]

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

+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 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. 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!

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.