Would you do this? (safety-related)

[RoxMonster]

I'm off for the summer and trying to get back into a workout routine. There is a bike trail here that I really enjoy walking on because it isn't busy, I'm not always dodging people, and it's really peaceful. H and I used to ride our bikes on it all the time together a couple years ago, and I never thought anything of it.

When I mentioned my walking out there alone to both he and my mom (just casually in conversation) they both were very concerned for my safety. Since they expressed these concerns, I have gone back out there to walk but felt paranoid the whole time. So do you think I'm being paranoid and is it fine/something you would do, or am I being unsafe?

Some more details about this trail: It really is pretty desolate; it winds through a bunch of cornfields/countryside with bushes/trees lining both sides of the path. Last week I went out there twice to walk (I never have ear phones in). The first time, I passed two people on bikes over the period of an hour, the second time I was out for about 40 min. and only passed one jogger.

I like it because it is shaded, very peaceful, and I hate dodging people when walking for exercise. There are a few other places in town I could walk that are more populated, but they are so busy/congested, even during the work week, that it isn't nearly as peaceful or enjoyable. We walk our dog twice a day multiple routes through our neighborhood, so I'm kinda sick of those routes. When walking on the trail, I have my cell with me.

Bottom line, if the consensus is this is stupid/unsafe, I could walk elsewhere, but prefer to walk here if possible.

I guess I just wanted a consensus of what other women would do and I'll weigh my options and go from there.

[TrickyBob]

Take pepper spray. See if you get cell signal. Let someone know where you are.

Can someone track you via GPS with your phone? If you get signal, turn that on and let whomever know. You don't need to keep it on all the time, but during walks by yourself, you never know when it might come in handy. 

[pursemeatballs]

Can you take your dog with you? I would probably continue walking on the trail, unless there have been incidents in the past and that's why your family is concerned.

[melindafelinda]

Afraid of what? Bears/wolves or rape/murder?

No. I wouldn't be afraid. Unless it was likely there would be huge dangerous animals.

[speckledfrog]

I think they're being a bit paranoid. Don't go at the same time every day and carry your cell phone. Not every day is an episode of SVU.

[papie]

I would keep going in the day, no music, and be aware of your surroundings. Or better yet, bring your dog. Is that not an option?

[demofea01]

Go during the day, and I would take pepper spray. We've had women attacked and raped on a similarly isolated trail in my neck of the woods.

[Deleted]

Where I live I wouldn't. Incidents are few but if they happen its on the quiet trails. So it's beyond my comfort zone.

It does sound like you are doing the right things to stay aware and minimize your risk though. So I wouldn't think you were stupid to continue walking there.

[SuziSaysDa]

I would keep walking there - but might consider carrying pepper spray.

I would also avoid carrying anything of any value, except maybe a cell phone. I would also let someone know where you are and when you expect to be done - just in case anything happened.

[EmilieMadison]

It's one thing to be cautious and aware of your surroundings and take precautions (pepper spray, not using earbuds, etc), and another to stop living a normal life.

Bad things can happen anywhere, and yeah, they're probably more likely to happen when you're alone and in an area that's more isolated. So would I continue to go? Probably. Would I be cautious? Yes.

[lilybug]

I would go. I'd take my phone, but I wouldn't be scared. I probably wouldn't go at dusk/night, though.

[kaybee85]

I'm trying to find a noncreepy way to say that shit happens everywhere and you aren't really safe anywhere. I know we like to feel in control and stuff..but yeah. Take common sense precautions like the suggestions listed, but go for it!

[kaybee85]

Jun 10, 2013 12:18:58 GMT -5 @starflower22 said:

I wouldn't go alone. We had a serial killer come through a few years ago and he was killing women on hiking trails. (He killed 1 local woman but did the same thing in other cities). Obe of his victims had her dog with her, it was later found running around the area. Obviously that's not going to be a common problem, but its just generally unsafe IMO. I used to be just uneasy about doing trails alone but after the serial killer incident I will 100% never go alone again.

And I was worried about creeping her out! 

Just to be devil's advocate, we had a rapist in town who was attacking women in broad daylight in the 'nice'/wealthy part of town here. It can really happen anywhere! 

[ijack]

people expressed similar concerns about me running in the morning before sunrise, so I took a break to run on the treadmill and fell off it and fucked up my finger the very first day. Running in the dark was much safer

[RoxMonster]

Thanks for the responses. I think I am going to continue walking there, but look into getting pepper spray (which would come in useful in other situations as well). My first instinct was to think along the lines that many of you did: stuff can happen anywhere. But at the same time, I avoid driving through neighborhoods in my city where crime is rampant, I take precautions when walking into stores alone, etc., so I didn't know if I was being foolish doing this. From what you all have said and from my gut, I don't think I am.

I'm always very aware of noises and who (if anyone) is coming up behind me, etc. So I will continue to go, but be cautious.

[circa1978]

As long as I had a cell phone with a signal, it wouldn't bother me. I'd be far more worried about getting hurt on my own without the ability to call for help than a random serial killer. Yes, those things happen. But not often. I wouldn't plan my life around them.

I wouldn't carry pepper spray, myself, because attackers can fight through it. If I was really hesitant, I'd probably carry a taser.

[fivechickens]

I wouldn't but I tend to be overly cautious/borderline paranoid about things and wouldn't be able to relax enough to enjoy my walk.

I live near Metroparks and won't walk by myself in them because they have some areas that are isolated from the rest of the park. So I started walking through a cemetery that my mom and grandparents are buried at. It is very peaceful walk.