Commuting in Seattle: Late hours

[VeganBikeChick]

Thanks so much for your reply, Eden. I'd really like to give it ago but the rational part of me asks, "BUT what IF someone does try something?" Thinking about carrying mace or pepper spray but don't know how useful it'd be. I wish I was a man and wouldn't have to be worried about these things.

[salsabike]

VeganBikeChick, could you try it once, with pepper spray at hand, just to see what the traffic on the trail is like? I understand your concerns. I did meet a guy on the Sammamish River Trail a month or so ago who does a super-early morning commute all year round (that includes the BG part you're talking about), and he was telling me about seeing owls often at that time. My point isn't so much the owls--although wouldn't that be great??--but that I think there ARE other early commuters and you might feel safer if you tested out that possibility just once.

[Eden]

I go through Interlake Park on my evening commute. While it's not particularly late it is dark in the winter and yes - it has run through my mind that if someone wanted to it would be easy to ambush a cyclist in there - it's very dark, even early in the evening and not always so busy if it's cold or wet, but I don't dwell on it - I just stay aware, well lit and keep moving. And yes! I have seen owls (and hear them even more often)

[VeganBikeChick]

Thanks again Eden, and Salsa. I might just take salsa's advice and do it once so that I can see for myself if I feel comfortable or not. I don't want fear to stop my ability to commute.

[rebeccaC]

agree on riding it and seeing for yourself. pepper gel is better in keeping spray from coming back....if you go that way be sure to buy a couple of containers of whatever you get and use one to get really familiar with how it works, how far it goes etc. there is a sketchy area on my ride into downtown la and i just slow down a bit, be very watchful, have my pepper gel in my hand and ride though...haven't had a bad problem yet thankfully....just feeling prepared helps me without really thinking about it now

martial arts starting in my teenage years has helped me in feeling more confident...even a basic self defense class can help in lessening fears a little or a lot.

i predict enjoyable commutes in your future

[Crankin]

You've received some good advice here. I echo the advice to do a practice run once, with the pepper spray. Maybe you can find someone to ride with you once, to test it out?
I do a lot of rides early in the AM (5-6), and I used to commute at 5:45. While there were never any sketchy areas on my commute, or where I ride now, some of it is a bit country-like. I find myself doing my fitness rides at that time, in the area of the center of town, as opposed to other loops that would be the same distance, but more isolated. I've never had a problem, and am always amazed that no matter how early I am out there (4:45?), I always see other riders. Two days a week there is even a large group ride that follows part of the route I am usually on. They whiz by me, but are always super friendly.

[VeganBikeChick]

Thanks Crankin. I'm going to try it out and report back.