Lakefront Bike Path south of 31st Street north of 47th street
I was attacked last night on the bike path. Fortunately I escaped. Basically as I was riding my road bike southbound, I had passed the new harbor at 31st, on the path at approximately 10PM I saw a large group of people. I turned on my hand held flashlight, a very very bright light and they all scattered. Once I past a couple of people they all then moved in and WHACK I was hit with something big and hard on the shoulder. Had it hit my head, arm or wheel it would have knocked me over and the beating would begin. I rode on, called the police and waited. after a bit of time passed I could see 10 of the mob in the group attempt to surround me. I fled again, called the police and filed a report. I am one lucky guy!
If I would have hit the ground i'm sure they would have beaten me to a pulp. I will ride again, just not solo on the south side at night.
PEOPLE WHO RIDE THERE NEED TO KNOW THIS.
Views: 3420
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Joe Schmoe on -
My philosophy: ride w/lights on unless I see a group of people in a dark area, w/o other around (checking behind me for other riders). Then I click the lights off, and decide if I can scoot by, or need to break onto the grass. I'll also slow down as I approach. The thing I look for, is if the whole group is specifically noticing me. Ie, they're talking, and all of a sudden they all turn around and look at me in unison, or they're all silent and staring at me, for no apparent reason.
-
Permalink Reply by MagMileMarauder on -
I believe that the streets are a much better alternative after sunset. There are infinite amount of spots than an attacker can hide to mug somebody. Even if you don't get mugged, and I've been on the path at dark, I always get a creepy sensation. I think that there's a misconception by a lot of people that everything south of the loop until Hyde Park is the "hood" and use the path not only as a bike "superhighway", but because they think it's safer than the streets. Not so. Just stick east of MLK and you'll find that most of that area is generally well patrolled, and in some parts by both U of Chicago PD and CPD.
-
Permalink Reply by MagMileMarauder on
-
I believe that this is a good route if you're coming from the South... There are many other alternatives, but I like this because it also goes through IIT, which also sees a fare amount of patrolling.
Added is another route if you wish to parallel the lakefront.
-
Permalink Reply by Elizabeth on -
The lake is gorgeous, especially with a full moon rising over it. A really enjoyable ride. I'm not afraid to ride the streets, and I do, but I find the lake front path ever so much nicer. And my 3 and 5 year olds can ride their own bikes, which we're a little way away from on city streets. Admittedly, if it's dark and summer, they're probably loaded up and being encouraged to sleep, but still.
The answer to this cannot be just to cede the lake front trail to hoodlums. The fewer people ride the LFP, the more dangerous it becomes for the rest of us.
-
Permalink Reply by MagMileMarauder on
-
I agree with not yielding to thugs, as I still use the path. Maybe I should rephrase it as, "there are other alternatives besides the lake front". When I think about it, the creepiness is more from the desolation, not from the prospect of getting mugged. Also, I'm the type of person that can't handle too much repetition. Even if the lake is gorgeous, riding it every day seems boring to me. But that's just me:)
-
Permalink Reply by Chris Hainey on -
As someone who was mugged on the Illinois Prairie Path going through Bellwood one night, here is my suggestion on avoiding trouble:
Avoid any situation where a group is either forcing you to go off the pavement, or tries to funnel you into the middle of the group.
-
Permalink Reply by Serge Lubomudrov on -
Two things:
The Lake (like a sea or the sky) is different every day, or even every time you ride by. But, of course, it is a matter of perception.
"Other alternatives" is redundant, by definition of an alternative.
MagMileMarauder said:I agree with not yielding to thugs, as I still use the path. Maybe I should rephrase it as, "there are other alternatives besides the lake front". When I think about it, the creepiness is more from the desolation, not from the prospect of getting mugged. Also, I'm the type of person that can't handle too much repetition. Even if the lake is gorgeous, riding it every day seems boring to me. But that's just me:)
-
Permalink Reply by James BlackHeron on -
English...
-
Permalink Reply by Gail Garcia on
-
Yikes. So scary. I'm really happy to see that you made it through safely. I am a newer resident of Kenwood and was taking the path, but I'm now taking Wabash and King. I am not out at night, so I cannot say how I'd feel about King Dr at night. The South Side can feel like the Wild Wild West where modern laws don't mean anything. The hooligan mob thing is crazy scary and I am not as proud as I once was to live in Chicago.
-
Permalink Reply by Gail Garcia on
-
Yes, Drexel is smoother but doggone it, drivers are consistently (dare I say always!) parked in the bike lane at various points along it! But it is much calmer than Cottage or King, for sure. Just doesn't go all the way through.
-
Permalink Reply by Gail Garcia on
-
And Wabash, as opposed to Michigan, does have marked bike lanes and has less traffic than Michigan. You just have to jog over for a couple of blocks just north of the expressway (on your way south) and hop onto 26th. Just a thought.
MagMileMarauder said:I believe that this is a good route if you're coming from the South... There are many other alternatives, but I like this because it also goes through IIT, which also sees a fare amount of patrolling.
Added is another route if you wish to parallel the lakefront.
-
Permalink Reply by S on -
Hi Gail,
I have to say that despite things occurring on the LFP, it is pretty safe. I've used it at fairly late including coming home last night at 11pm without any incidents. It is pretty empty at times but there are people coming through even when it's really late (3-4am). Yes, there are places where you're hemmed in by construction fences so you are limited in your options if you need an escape route but overall I haven't had any issues on the path. And the roads aren't without issues especially later at night when you need to start working about drunk drivers coming home from bars. If you're riding during the day, the LFP gets enough traffic that you really don't need to worry much about being alone on the path.
However, your route really is up to you and you should make your own decision in regards to risks and figure out the route that you'd be most comfortable on.
Gail Garcia said:Yikes. So scary. I'm really happy to see that you made it through safely. I am a newer resident of Kenwood and was taking the path, but I'm now taking Wabash and King. I am not out at night, so I cannot say how I'd feel about King Dr at night. The South Side can feel like the Wild Wild West where modern laws don't mean anything. The hooligan mob thing is crazy scary and I am not as proud as I once was to live in Chicago.
© 2008-2013 The Chainlink Community, L.L.C. Julie Hochstadter, Director
Powered by
