Is there a way to confirm this?

[Aggie_Ama]

Nevermind, found it in the local paper. It happened last Thursday, I think I commuted home last Thursday passed through the exact spot about 2 hours before it happened! That is quite scary for me. I think I will investigate carrying mace and alternate commutes such as riding to my parents where I can get before dark or a well lit grocery store that is on my way home. I finally get comfortable riding on my own and then I get all these negative thoughts.

[wackyjacky1]

You don't want to let something like that stop you from carrying on with your normal life, but at the same time you don't want to take unnecessary risks. For the time being, I think your idea of driving to a more secure spot, then cycling the rest of the way, sounds like the smart thing to do. Hopefully they'll catch the scumbag and you can resume your regular ride.

[Tuckervill]

I'm curious to know what the paper said about it. Was she raped by a stranger? Do they have the suspect in custody? How did he get to her if she was in a car?

The answers to those questions would have an impact on my decision to continue on that route or not.

Karen

[Aggie_Ama]

From what the paper said she was alone and had a mechanical issue with her car but didn't say what. The guy stopped, her assumption was to offer help. They have a description that sounds like 50% of the men in this area, truck that is one of the most popular in the area and not much else. It happened on a rural highway, no street lights and lighter traffic at 8:30 on a weeknight. Traffic is extremely light out here by that time. Hopefully if the scum lives in the area it won't take long, we have very heavy law enforcement (county, city and state) here. We are known as a speed trap, sadly the officers usually don't patrol this area.

I am going to consider car pooling until we outfit my bike with mace or pepper spray, my husband is very adamant about wanting me to carry this now, as is my mom and my dad. It is the future my husband is concerned about, right now it is daylight when I ride, at least 1 hour to dusk. He is extremely angry and worried that he cannot feel comfortable with me riding alone, he has never had much of a problem with it. I can't let this hold me back but you have to understand we have practically no violent crime in this area. This is out of place as a stranger attacked her (from what I gather) and very alarming to me as a woman and resident because it is just so brash.

I am hoping sleeping on it tonight will let me calm down. I have been assaulted by kids throwing stuff, buzzing me or a dog chase but never been genuinely concerned about my safety. I am hoping to continue commuting until the time change and then come up with some alternative to keep me out of the rural areas in the dark.

[wildhawk]

I am sorry to hear that - hope it does not shake your confidence in riding alone. I am riding alone now too at times and I have added Mace to my bike. I have it attached to the handlebar stem - anyone looking at my bike sees it so hopefully it will send a message. Always be aware of your surroundings and listen to that little inner voice. I try and take well-lit routes at dark and during the day I pass by a very busy school so there are always crossing guards, etc. there. I also make sure that my cell phone is within easy reach while riding and my DH knows what time I leave and I call him to let him know I am on my way back home.

[NbyNW]

It sounds like they haven't caught this guy yet . . . ? How disturbing.

In addition to the precautions you are already taking, you might also look into whether there are any self-defense courses for women in your area.

I took a course a few years ago that was offered by the university police where I was doing graduate work. They taught us how to break various types of holds that assailants tend to use on women, and we were able to practice hitting and kicking the officers (they wore pads). It doesn't obviate the need to use common sense, but it might be helpful if you ever did find yourself in a bad situation.

[Grog]

That's not very good to hear.

But if you're going to get pepper spray or mace or something like that, please, please take some formal instruction in how to use it and also in self-defense in general. I know from the forestry people I work with that many people end up shooting themselves instead of whatever is attacking them (in their case: bears), and that's quite counter productive! Self-defense will also make you feel a lot more confident and give you means to fight back if the circumstances require it, whether on your bike or elsewhere.

Peace. Thinking of you.

[Aggie_Ama]

Thanks for the suggestions ladies. I will see if any of the local organizations are offering self defense, I have always thought I should take it. I have a friend that is a single mother who would be interested as well.

As far as Mace/Pepper Spray I would definitely take classes even if it meant buying two so I could practice with one.

I really think and hope this was a random act and not a serial rapist. I am already aware but now I need to think harder about how I am protecting myself.

[Tuckervill]

Is there cell phone service out there? I hate to come off like I'm blaming the victim, but there are probably things she could have done. She's probably asking herself the same questions.

I made a stupid mistake once on the interstate. A guy drove by me and started pointing at my car (my son was with me, about 9 or 10, I guess). I already knew there was something wrong with the plastic cowling under the car, and I decided to check it out to see if it had gotten worse with the speed. So, I let him get ahead of me a ways, and then I pulled over to the shoulder. It was in broad daylight on I-40 with lots of big rigs going by, so I felt more afraid of those than the guy.

But, the idiot stopped up ahead, and then proceeded to drive in reverse down the shoulder. I was on my knee looking under the passenger side front wheel, when I noticed him getting out of his car and coming toward me. Alarm bells went off. I hopped up, said my thanks, and walked around the back of the car and got in. He never got within two feet of me, he started to back off when he saw my son, I think, and I was out of sight before he got back in the lane. I'm glad I never turned the car off.

It's easy to make a mistake like that. I thought I was okay, and that he would just go on, but no, he stopped. And he was probably perfectly fine, although I still feel that alarm when I think of him. Like I said, I'm sure that victim in that case is asking herself what she did wrong, and it's good to learn from that.

Karen