Commuting through unsavory areas?

[tzvia]

It is kinda like walking through such a neighborhood, with the obvious difference being that you are on the street (please nobody ride on the sidewalk-it's much more dangerous for cyclists than the street) and moving faster. What I mean is, that the same basic things apply; ride (or walk) with purpose, know where you are going and go in a straight line at a good clip. Keep your head UP and keep aware of the surroundings, both to track traffic and any characters that look out-of-place or unduly interested in you. You see something that doesn't look or feel right, guess what, it probably isn't right so make sure you know the area and how to get out of that spot (don't turn on to another street to THEN discover it is a dead end or turns in the wrong direction.) Keep the expensive road bike at home and take a hybrid or commuter. Wear sweatpants and a tee shirt, and no visible expensive jewelery/watch. You might want to keep a pepper spray on the handlebar, if allowed in your state or city. Maybe take the car through this neighborhood at the time you intend to ride it, look around and see if it looks quiet, or if there are gangs hanging out or a lot of traffic.

Keep your visibility UP, I know nothing bugs me more when I am in the car, than a cyclist with a death wish, wearing dark clothing and with no lights or reflectors, cutting across the street in front of me at 6am like a drunken sailor. Bright lights, front and back, that have some side spillage, reflectors on the bike and you, and a light on the helmet if possible. I bought reflective tape by 'NATHAN' that is just awesome and put it all over my helmet. I then got some red and yellow reflective tape and put it on the chainstays and fork, and 'lightweights' reflective tape and put it on all the spokes. A Nightrider 600 lumen front light, Magicshine and Dinotte taillights, NATHAN reflective vest and reflective leg bands, red blinker on the downtube and L&M Stella 150 on the helmet turn me into Disneyland on wheels. If someone misses seeing me they are blind. No, the stuff was not cheap; I could have bought a bike for what I spent on lights and reflectors, but when I leave home now it is DARK. There are no street lights for the first mile of my ride, and while the rest is well lit, that just means my lights have to be brighter and the reflectors of better quality, to compete with the storefronts and streetlights. Frankly, it looks kinda funny but that's ok. Cars give me room. Pedestrians at the lights have mentioned I was very visible from blocks away. I would venture a guess that more cyclists are injured by cars that did not see them, than by unsavory characters.

[Crankin]

I agree with Tzvia. Although I don't commute through "unsavory" areas, I do ride at 5-6:30 AM, mostly in places with no streetlights. And I drive in a lot of bad areas for my job, and I have thought about how I would ride there. Sometimes I think it's overkill, but generally, I have my very bright front light and 2 blinkies in the back, as well as a blinking ankle band. I also wear a Nathan reflective vest when the ride is in total darkness, like at this time of the year. Sometimes I put another blinkie on my back, clipped to my vest or jacket. Last week I rode to the gym and I have to cross a highway at about 5 AM; my bike does not trigger the signal and there are rarely any other cars going my way. There is a walk signal at both the curb and again the median; when it was light or even semi light, I could ride across the highway to the median, as there's rarely any traffic going that way, and then I press the button to get across the second half. Well, it was pitch dark and I realized I needed to really press the signal for the first half, as I felt uncomfortable. But, the pole/signal was on the sidewalk and I already had my bike sort of parallel to the highway, by the cross walk. Because I was so lit up, a car, far away, actually stopped to let me get across, although he didn't have to. I *know* he saw me.
I won't put reflective tape on my road bikes, for the obvious reasons, but I have worn my hiking headlight (not a huge one) on my helmet. It really doesn't help me see, but I think it lets others see me. There isn't a lot of traffic or hardly any cars when I first go out, but by the time I return, there is a steady stream of people heading to work. And delivery trucks unloading at the stores/restaurants in the town center. Once in awhile I feel like I'd like some side visibility, but I haven't found a solution that's not permanent or a lot of money. At one point I had a blinkie on the side and now I'm wondering why I took it off.

[tzvia]

Yes the light on the head is my 'aggressive' be seen light. 150 lumens in your eyes if I think you don't see me. I tilt my head in your direction, like I am just 'looking' at you and oh so sorry I got that light in your eyes... Awake now? Good, put down that smart phone and pay attention.

I'm on the beat-em-up commuter (an REI steel Novara) so I don't mind the reflective tape on the frame. All the better it makes the bike look really cheesy even though it was not cheap and I like it (it does ride nice and has a wheelset I had made for it and has SRAM parts). It got it's first "dark morning" checkup and wash today. Deep charge (instead of the top off charges at work) for all the rechargeable lights, new AA and AAA for the frame lights, replace the old looking reflective tape, scrub of drivetrain and lube chain, wash, adjust and inspect including for foreign object in the tires, check the repair kit and replenish the patch kit. So I guess regular maintenance should also be included- don't want to be stuck broken down in a less than comfy neighborhood. Sometimes it can't be helped, but having a frayed shift cable break instead of noticing it and replacing it, or having a tube puncture from something that worked it's way in just sucks, as it is totally avoidable.

Oh, and it does not hurt to know of 'safe areas' along the route. Well lit busy areas that are close by, like a 24 hr minimart, police station or firehouse.

[bikesNgsd]

Thanks for the hints. I'm well in tune (unfortunately) with the amount of crime that happens in the neighborhoods I would meander through. There is one area I could go around to that is slightly more industrial that overall has less crime issues than other areas, but being less populated I'm not sure if that would necessarily be a good idea either. And really I'm not worried about middle class areas that might have on the side drug dealers...that's not the type of crime I'm worried about....but rather the areas where violent crime (whether drug related or not) is common.

I'll definitely be looking into the lights and reflective strips! And the advice on the replair kits and double checking everything before you leave is great too, thanks!

I was also thinking the days I commute I'd only have my scan card for work and my cell phone in one of those "passport holders" that straps under your clothing and leave the wallet at home.

[OakLeaf]

I'd just add one more comment about visibility: IMO, none is better than a little. I think a lot of cyclists are unaware of target fixation because (1) we ride with our backs to traffic and (2) most of us haven't taken a traffic skills course in a long time. Running (and personal experience with target fixation on the moto ) has taught me that probably nine times out of ten, when a motorist buzzes me on the bike - and when a pedestrian or cyclist actually gets creamed by a car - it's because of target fixation. What I've learned running is that drivers need between one and two tenths of a mile to recover from target fixation. IOW, if your visibility aids mean that someone first sees you at 1/10 mile instead of at 100 feet, you're more likely to get hit, because when they first see you they'll steer toward you, and they won't have had time to recover and veer away.

What I mean is, there's no such thing as overkill when it comes to visibility, but "underkill" is a serious problem.

[tealtreak]

I'd just add one more comment about visibility: IMO, none is better than a little. I think a lot of cyclists are unaware of target fixation because (1) we ride with our backs to traffic and (2) most of us haven't taken a traffic skills course in a long time. Running (and personal experience with target fixation on the moto ) has taught me that probably nine times out of ten, when a motorist buzzes me on the bike - and when a pedestrian or cyclist actually gets creamed by a car - it's because of target fixation. What I've learned running is that drivers need between one and two tenths of a mile to recover from target fixation. IOW, if your visibility aids mean that someone first sees you at 1/10 mile instead of at 100 feet, you're more likely to get hit, because when they first see you they'll steer toward you, and they won't have had time to recover and veer away.

What I mean is, there's no such thing as overkill when it comes to visibility, but "underkill" is a serious problem.

I have not taken this class and just recently added blinkys to my road bike after a young lady was hit here in Richmond. I only ride in total daylight; am I better off with out the blinkies ? I always wear neon (and I mean day glow green or yellow - horrifies my daughter)

[OakLeaf]

I think wearing full neon is the best way to go. I don't think blinkies make much of a difference in bright sunlight, but as soon as the shadows get long, a really bright one like my Planet Bike Superflash helps a lot.

[Giulianna23]

I havent had a chance to commute in the last 7 days or so due to the weather but I have bought some rflective clothing and I have added a bunch of lights to my commuter and also planning on buying this vest if possible...still thinking about it though. I don't care if I look like a Xmas tree. I am going to make sure these drivers see me from 3 blocks away! And I am praying for the weather to get better so I can keep commuting until I can handle the temp. Prt of my commute I go through an area that for a lot of people here in Indy is dangerous but for some reason I do not feel unsafe. But I do keep my eyes open...U never know!