Is there a way to confirm this?

[Aggie_Ama]

My husband told me something unsettling this afternoon, still digesting how to deal with it. He said he was told a motorist was raped last week after her vehicle broke down at the very intersection I get stopped by a light daily when I commute. He said it was supposedly evening but not super late, exactly how it will be come daylight savings time on my ride home. I don't want to be paralyzed by fear but this is a very isolated stretch of road, it is a big road but not much traffic and lots of ranches way off the road. If this story was true this was a vunerable motorist, how much more secure can a smaller female on a bike be?

Anyone know if I could call the local sheriff's department (this isn't in city limits of any town) to just see if that really happened? No details, just was there a rape there in the last month? I cannot find it in the paper but not every rape or violent crime ends up in the paper. Although I do wonder how his friend knew of it.

[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

[Aggie_Ama]

Yup cell phone reception but it is still very isolated and does suddenly make me feel a bit less safe. It a major east-west thoroughfare even though it is not high traffic it is the way to the hill country so there is no way to assume this scum lives nearby or that this would happen again. But it did shatter my sense of well-being and I think most people would feel the same.

I think being concerned and suddenly knowing this road is not quite as idyllic as I have always felt is smart. I may be sounding paranoid but I was stopped at this same intersection riding my bike alone that evening about an hour before dark. I stop at this general area everytime I ride home, sometimes I have to wait up to 5 minutes for a car to come my way and set off the signal for me to cross the highway.

I feel most people would suddenly have their red flags up upon hearing this crime was committed practically in their back yard. This is less than 10 miles by bike from my house. Much like your situation this is an area where you trust someone offering help, you don't think the worst of people. I wasn't raised that way, people are good, things like this don't happen. I mean duh I was told not to talk to strangers and all that stuff but really no one assualts you while you are broken down. But wait they do.

Sorry to go off on a tangent but this is my home, I mean really my home. Not the metro area, not my work, it is where I live and play. Obviously sleeping on it didn't make me less angry about it. But I have found several places to call about self-defense classes. And my husband is still adamant about looking into pepper spray, we believe the gun shops sell it.

Honestly I should have done both things in 2003 when I started running or even before when I was just a woman walking across my college campus. I just honestly hate the "preparing so you aren't the victim" feeling. My MIL carries a concealed handgun because of things like this, I always wanted to believe that was stupid. I won't get a gun, I don't have an desire for one.

[Smilie]

How very scary. Stay safe and get your pepper spray. Sending good vibes to you.

[Dianyla]

I stop at this general area everytime I ride home, sometimes I have to wait up to 5 minutes for a car to come my way and set off the signal for me to cross the highway.

Is there no way you can trigger the sensor using your bicycle? Sometimes you have to tilt or lean the body of the bike over the sensor to trip it if it won't trip just by sitting on top of it.

Also, is it possible to just treat this light like a four-way stop? I know the legality of this varies by state, but... well if it were me, I'd come to a full stop, then as long as traffic was clear I would just move along on my way.

Lastly, I highly recommend The Gift Of Fear, by Gavin DeBecker.

[Aggie_Ama]

I am going to look into that book, thank you.

I believe bikes might trigger the camera since a motorcycle has before. I just usually stop in the shoulder so cars will pull up to the line. I will probably talk to the Sheriff I see around town and ask him in this case what I should do. Honestly I think they would not even attempt to ticket but I hate the way it looks to anyone nearby! I really think (hope) it was a random act of horrible violence.

[sundial]

Aggie, the Spot has a button you push for 911 service if you get in an area where there's no cell service.

If there is a predator out there, he may go to any lengths to harm a victim--including running over a cyclist. Be alert!

Concealed weapon permit--allows you to carry peace of mind.