I don't want this to be a thread about Second Amendment rights, or how big of a shotgun is needed to be safe. And I don't mean for this question to have any racial implications. It's just a question about safety while traveling in metro areas. I was channel surfing and I started watching a program called. "Gang Wars, Oakland". Pretty scary stuff. I started to wonder how do you know what areas are "safe" for RVers to drive through or visit? We are planning on visiting San Francisco in a couple of months. Oakland is right next door. I could see how we could get routed through an area with our GPS that could be high risk. How do you know what areas to avoid? Have any of you found yourselves in an area where you didn't feel safe? How did you respond? Did you turn around and drive back out the way you came in? Did you continue? It seems that every city has areas that areless safe for most residents. The locals know where those areas are, and they don't go there. But what about RVer's that are just visiting? We love museums, and it's common for us to punch the address for a museum into the GPS and drive there without doing a recon of the route. I wonder if that's ill advised.I wondered if there was an app. for a smart phone, something like, "Don't Go There Dude". We live in an agricultural area in Washington State and we can pretty much drive wherever we like without being at risk. But I don't think that you can say the same for South Los Angles, or Oakland, or ???I would like to avoid confrontations with local citizens, I don't want to put my wife or I at risk by being uninformed. I don't want to get into a shootout with multiple assailants. I understand that any area can be dangerous, by just being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and advice.

Google knows. "Dangerous areas of.. city name"

When this has happened to us, we turn around and go back the same way we came in. I kind of get the feeling that we are in the wrong area and act accordingly. We have never had any problems that has affected us where there was danger to us. It does not have to be a large area either, we have seen problem areas that were small towns. JMO

We've not run into any problems. Did get worried when we were going into a new park in Bakersfield, CA (River Run Rv Park). The drive in was thru an industrial area and it was night....no one on the streets. It was rather eerie. BUT, once in the park it was delightful. From then on, we do a google EARTH search and SEE what the area is like. If it's run down and crappy, then we stay away. My SIL travels all over the world, she does Google Earth to look at the locations she might be in......she's changed reservations a # of times.

Living close to LA there are bad areas, but I travel for work to most major cities, in the US and just about any other Country you can think of. Having said that, I have always gone by gut feelings, if you feel uncomfortable, don't stop, keep driving right on through. I doubt anyone will bother you if you are passing through, or at least that has been my experience. I was in Seattle once and ended up in Rainer Valley. While it does not look like your typical ghetto, it is a gang infested, and I knew right away from peoples mannerisms I did not want to stop there. I drove through, no problem. Just be aware of your surroundings, and if something does not feel right, it probably isn't. I will say this, how many times on the news have heard people say "This just doesn't happen around here"? Crime can happen anywhere.

Real simple. Stop at a local Walmart, if you feel uncomfortable walking around in the store move on. I think you will find most Walmart stores in bad areas don't allow over night camping. You have to judge your own comfort zone. Don't mean this to be about Walmart. You can do the same in any grocery store, or any shopping center in an area. JMHO

Big Cities, what areas are safe? | Good Sam Community

55 Replies

OkSixpack
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
wintersun wrote:
The only time I have felt unsafe in any American city was in Detroit and I was glad I was in a taxi and not a rental car. I no longer feel safe in places like Florida with all the gun nuts carrying handguns.

There are places where there are bars and cops and on a Saturday night I would avoid these areas so as not get robbed or shot by a cop. If you are white the odds of being shot by a cop in this country are 1/47 as high as if you are a person of color.

Urban areas used to have more crime overall though fewer murders than rural areas. but since lead was taken out of gasoline the crime rates are now on par with no more crime in cities than in rural areas.

San Francisco is a high theft city though this is not publicized for obvious reasons. Friends have had spare tires and car radios and even car security systems stolen after stopping at a grocery store or leaving their car parked outside of a garage.

Parking lots at day use areas at state beaches are another high theft area but thieves tend to target people with cars and they are looking for women heading off to the beach without handbags. The thieves know that a purse with credit cards has been left behind and that the people will not be returning anytime soon.

Safest place to be with an RV is in an RV park where there are other people around. Having a yappy dog also helps deter thieves, though they are looking for an unoccupied vehicle.

The Costa Ricans are smart as they have people watching the parking lots and you tip them a dollar when you leave as a thank you for keeping it safe. In the USA you pay to park and then hope that your vehicle is not broken into while you are away. If it is the private operator of the lot or parking garage has no responsibility for the loss or damages.

I would feel much safer in Detroit where only criminals can have guns than Florida where law abiding people have them.....not! If anybody was to straighten you out on the getting shot by a cop the thread would have to shut down.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Nov 12, 2014
wintersun wrote:
The only time I have felt unsafe in any American city was in Detroit and I was glad I was in a taxi and not a rental car. I no longer feel safe in places like Florida with all the gun nuts carrying handguns.

I lived in Detroit for like 30 years, Only place I've not felt comfortable was Benton Harbor.

That said. I will admit one of the most popular places for cars to go AWOL (Get stolen) is the First Pct. Detroit Police Headquarters Parking GARAGE, this is an attended garage no less.

(Many Detroit PD cars are keyed alike and it sometimes happens that an officer will accidentally take someone else's car by mistake).

Got robbed once.. In Grayling, MI.
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
wintersun wrote:
The only time I have felt unsafe in any American city was in Detroit and I was glad I was in a taxi and not a rental car. I no longer feel safe in places like Florida with all the gun nuts carrying handguns.

There are places where there are bars and cops and on a Saturday night I would avoid these areas so as not get robbed or shot by a cop. If you are white the odds of being shot by a cop in this country are 1/47 as high as if you are a person of color.

Urban areas used to have more crime overall though fewer murders than rural areas. but since lead was taken out of gasoline the crime rates are now on par with no more crime in cities than in rural areas.

San Francisco is a high theft city though this is not publicized for obvious reasons. Friends have had spare tires and car radios and even car security systems stolen after stopping at a grocery store or leaving their car parked outside of a garage.

Parking lots at day use areas at state beaches are another high theft area but thieves tend to target people with cars and they are looking for women heading off to the beach without handbags. The thieves know that a purse with credit cards has been left behind and that the people will not be returning anytime soon.

Safest place to be with an RV is in an RV park where there are other people around. Having a yappy dog also helps deter thieves, though they are looking for an unoccupied vehicle.

The Costa Ricans are smart as they have people watching the parking lots and you tip them a dollar when you leave as a thank you for keeping it safe. In the USA you pay to park and then hope that your vehicle is not broken into while you are away. If it is the private operator of the lot or parking garage has no responsibility for the loss or damages.

What nonsense
MFL
Nomad II
Nov 03, 2014
ol Bombero-JC wrote:
MFL wrote:
I've been following this thread, so much of it about the city of Oakland, and here is my .02.

I'd been staying in the 6 motels on a trip out west, so was making reservations from one to the next. I arrived at my motel in Oakland, got checked in, started to unload. A car pulled up to the room across from me, a pregnant girl jumped out yelling and screaming for help.

I walked over to check, only to find her boyfriend laying in the backseat, covered in blood. The girl said some guys jumped him, a few blocks away, and stabbed him mutiple times. Ya, it was not pretty, but what are you going to do?

Well luckily the police showed up, the fire department, the recue squad, the canine unit, and lastly a helicopter. I think he did survive, but not sure.

I went to the office later, to ask about a mall. They mentioned one nearby, so headed over there. Well my new white Thunderbird, stuck out like a sore thumb, in the area I was in, not sure it would be there, when coming out of the mall.

The mall was three stories high, and quite busy. First thing obvious, we were the only Caucasians in this mall. Boy that was weird, even the mannequins were different than us.

When we got back to our motel, there was a big ruckus going on a couple doors down, between what I think was a hooker, and a client, disagreeing on price. A room key was thrown on the ground, they went separate directions.

I got up early to avoid heavy traffic to San Francisco. By 6:30 am, the roar on the freeway, sounded like a train at high speed. We made it to Fishermen's Wharf, to spend the day. We took the boat to Alcatraz island, went through the prison, very interesting.

I have to say, Oakland was exciting, but off my list for places to stay!

Jerry

Hmmmmm - you should write a book.

Title? - "Fun for the Clueless"..:S

~

My story is from the early 80s. When I was younger. I was invincible, much like many others. I could tell many stories, from my earlier life, of adventures, that I would not even consider now.

Yes, I could write a book, that many people would enjoy. I don't think you would want to read it, as you would not have a "clue" as to why people do what they do.

Stay home, stay safe, enjoy life, if you can,
Jerry
ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Nov 03, 2014
MFL wrote:
I've been following this thread, so much of it about the city of Oakland, and here is my .02.

I'd been staying in the 6 motels on a trip out west, so was making reservations from one to the next. I arrived at my motel in Oakland, got checked in, started to unload. A car pulled up to the room across from me, a pregnant girl jumped out yelling and screaming for help.

I walked over to check, only to find her boyfriend laying in the backseat, covered in blood. The girl said some guys jumped him, a few blocks away, and stabbed him mutiple times. Ya, it was not pretty, but what are you going to do?

Well luckily the police showed up, the fire department, the recue squad, the canine unit, and lastly a helicopter. I think he did survive, but not sure.

I went to the office later, to ask about a mall. They mentioned one nearby, so headed over there. Well my new white Thunderbird, stuck out like a sore thumb, in the area I was in, not sure it would be there, when coming out of the mall.

The mall was three stories high, and quite busy. First thing obvious, we were the only Caucasians in this mall. Boy that was weird, even the mannequins were different than us.

When we got back to our motel, there was a big ruckus going on a couple doors down, between what I think was a hooker, and a client, disagreeing on price. A room key was thrown on the ground, they went separate directions.

I got up early to avoid heavy traffic to San Francisco. By 6:30 am, the roar on the freeway, sounded like a train at high speed. We made it to Fishermen's Wharf, to spend the day. We took the boat to Alcatraz island, went through the prison, very interesting.

I have to say, Oakland was exciting, but off my list for places to stay!

Jerry

Hmmmmm - you should write a book.

Title? - "Fun for the Clueless"..:S

~
pappcam
Explorer
Nov 03, 2014
As soon as you see a pawn shop turn around at the earliest opportunity... ;)
Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Nov 03, 2014
Bull Rider wrote:

Google Earth doesn't really show much as far as crime indicators, but that's a good suggestion.

Google Earth offers "street view" on most major streets now. You can drop in and do a 360-degree view. If you see things you don't like (graffiti; big fences; window and door grates, etc) - then re-route.

Having grown up on the "wrong side of the tracks" myself, I agree with another poster that time of day is your friend: what might seem terrifying at 10 PM can be a friendly and interesting drive at 10 AM. Thinking of my own nearby city of Grand Rapids, MI - if you follow the signage from the expressway, to various places like museums, the zoo, etc, you'll be led down some well-traveled, well-policed roads. Or download the directions to a specific location from their website.

Also - don't make yourself a "target" when on foot. Leave your big purse behind - carry a few essentials in a small cross-body purse, or better yet, don't carry a purse at all. Walk like you mean business. Be aware of your surroundings. Stay near other groups of like-minded people. And then have a great time!!
mlts22
Explorer II
Nov 03, 2014
A lot of it is luck. I've gone to bars fairly often in an area where a cow-orker did not make it a block from where he worked, before he got got two black eyes by the local denizens.

My take: I use Google Maps, and if at the edge of a larger city, find a good RV park, and get a retnal car. The advantage of a rental car is that it has in-state plates, which makes one less of a target.
coolbreeze01
Explorer
Nov 03, 2014
^^^^^Classic :B
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Nov 03, 2014
This whole thread reminds me of this scene!

"Hey aaa, excuse me Holms." "What it is Bro; we're from out of town." LOL :B