 Re: Riding in the hood.
Two months ago on a Sunday morning I was going to ride my ebike down the bike path. I put it on the back of my car headed off for the park where the bike path begins. There were police cars at every intersection. They all let me pass so I pretty much ignored them. When I got to the entrance of the park there was yet another car.
I asked what happened and was told that someone had been robbed and they were looking for the robber. I asked if it was okay to ride, and was assured that it was fine.
I read about the incident in the paper a few days later. A hicker on THAT same path had been robbed at knife point. There was a tussle because he didn't want to give up his money. The thief got away. I thought to myself on reading that. why did the cop tell me it was safe to ride that bike trail when the guy was still around. When that passed I began to wonder how often crimes like that happen on the bike/ walking trail.
That night I began to think seriously that I am no longer in shape to duke it out with some kid over a few bucks. It still goes against my grain to meekly give up money to a thug. What I did was to salt my wallet and take all the good stuff out.
I left a twenty dollar bill in it, then took out my driver's license, credit card, ATM card, and social security card. I made a smaller case from some leather I had around and then stuffed it in my change pocket along with my real money. So now when I go out just to ride, I leave that card case with the cash home and carry the wallet with minimum ID and just a little bit of cash.
Heck I look like a derelict anyway no one would bother to rob me but if they did they get nothing of importance. Of course they will know who my plumber is since his business card is there. |