Comments on: Summer Muggin’

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:44:22 +0000

I would have to agree that the per-pedestrian rate is something to look at. Despite these numbers, I would never recommend 15th Street for the walk up. Belmont between 14 and 15 is a hot-spot for crime. My bet's still on 16th street - it's well lit and has high foot- and car-traffic.

By: james

james — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:35:35 +0000

i usually take 13th, i find it to be most plesant and quiet. there's usually shady characters loitering on 14th at W and at Flordia, so I try to avoid that night if possible (well if im sober enough to be thinking that carefully).

It's true that 15th does seem the most quiet and safe, I just hate that bitch of a hill after Florida and that crazy 3-way intersection where W, Florida and New Hampshire meet. The stoplights are terrible and I always feel like frogger about to get hit by a car.

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:43:17 +0000

Those stats are pretty meaningless, both with the tiny sample size, and no information about total number of pedestrians - I mean, 9 muggings in 10,000 walkers is not as bad as 3 muggings in 100 walkers. And of course the rates go up in the summer - who wants to walk anywhere when it's really cold out?

So what people should really do is walk with friends when possible, pay attention to their surroundings, and just generally be careful.

Or we could all stay in our homes 24/7, cowering under the bed.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:40:54 +0000

I would recommend learning how to use a gun, and carrying it, and shooting would-be robbers in the face, rather than worrying about which street you can make the victim trek on and hope you aren't the one targeted.

Oh wait, guns are bad.

By: jeff

jeff — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:11:36 +0000

I think 14th is the sketchiest of the options here, it is the only one I might deliberately avoid.

If we have more choices, I find 11th to be ok, not super safe but good enough. over towards adams morgan those back streets like ontario are a little on the dark and empty side.

But like the other commenters, I would recommend 13th most of all, not that it is so great. it is also worth trying to catch a 50-bus up 14th Street too, while you are still close to U Street.

By: urban pioneer

urban pioneer — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:15:15 +0000

i would be curious about the times and days of the week.

By: Mr. T in DC

Mr. T in DC — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:06:01 +0000

I tend to alternate between 13th and 16th. I definitely feel most comfortable swinging over to 16th, but it does add more distance to the walk, and as your statistics may show, it only offers the illusion of more safety.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:41:42 +0000

1500 feet? that's 1/3 of a mile. Most of these crimes are probably the same crimes. And 15th is likely lower because a big chunk of that area is Meridian Hill Park. There just aren't as many residences on 15th, hence, fewer walkers. If you could analyze crimes per pedestrian, I bet 15th would be just as bad if not worse.

Personally, I always walk on 13th. Late at night, it consistently has the most foot traffic between U street and Columbia Heights, and it's got wide sidewalks and good visibility.