'back in the day' when I lived at 46th near Spruce, I would often get off the El at 46th at night. I never thought twice about it until one day I noticed as I was cutting across the parking lot on Farragut north of Chestnut that there was a man following me and catching up rather quickly. I quickened my pace and changed direction, towards the Texaco just below Chestnut. He matched my actions.
I'm not used to anybody trying things with me. I'm 6'3" and ~230# which gives me a different perspective on sketchy areas than someone who was say 5'1" and 100#. So anyway, I darted across a mostly empty Chestnut street (it was 'round about midnight this fine winter evening) and walked into the Texaco store with the mystey follower after me. He looked very surprised and uncertain as he tried to decide whether to follow me into the store or not. Eventually he turned away from the door and I was running out the door on the other side and sprinting for 46th street and home. I felt a lot more comfortable when I reached Walnut street which isn't really much lighter but certainly has more of a chance of people being out and about throwing garbage onto Kyles lawn or cursing at each other near the Watusi Pub. I believe Jane Jacobs refers to this as "eyes on the street". Anyway, I started to take the 21 bus at night after that experience. It was a little slower, but I felt a lot more comfortable getting off on 46th and Walnut instead of 46th and Market. The amount of light was never an issue for me; I was more interested in having as many fellow citizens around me as possible. I now live near 48th and Baltimore. It is dark and residential but there are people wondering around and I have never felt even a little nervous there. I know people are breaking into cars right around the corner but most of the time there are folks coming out of bars or perhaps even going to some event at Calvary that doesn't make me worry about my personal well-being. Just my $.02. -scott Well, as I said in the post that the problem I have personally w/the Farragut Street El stop is multifactorial, and stems mainly from the fact that the area is A) desolate, meaning there aren't many stores open at night and no restaurants or anything like that and B) that it is poorly lit. I personally have very, very poor night vision (as a result of having very poor regular vision---in ophthalmologic circles it is called "high myopia"), so yes, I have to say that I personally like to have light. And yes, if there were nice businesses that kept a fairly good clientele into the evening, I might feel differently. But what to businesses like that usually bring with them? Light. >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Re: [UC] Rethinking Outdoor Security Lighting & People >Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 15:37:25 EDT > > >In a message dated 9/10/2004 10:00:47 AM Eastern Standard Time, >[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > >walking*? >...For this reason, I will not take the El to 46th Street alone if it's >late and dark, because the area around there is very, VERY poorly lit. >The desolation (lack of open stores, etc) contributes, but the main >problem for me is the lighting. > > > >If there was a greater level of civil night life or the knowledge there >was no drinkin, druggin, gamblin, n sex, how much more >comfortable/confident would > you be alone? > >Thanks, > >Craig _________________________________________________________________ FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar - get it now! http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/ ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
