springwater trail safe at night for the evening commute?

[artizin]

now that it's getting dark earlier.. is the springwater trail safe at night? Anyone have any issues?

just curious.

[Attornatus_Oregonensis]

I travel between downtown and Sellwood. I've had one basic problem: Nearly hitting animals (possums, mostly) and people, on bike or on foot, who are wearing clothing so dark you can't see them until you're right next to them. Watch out for that.

[Thorlak]

With the exception of this http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/25/c...e-springwater/
I haven't heard of anything bad happening at night on Springwater. I think
this is a very isolated incident.

[Cruizer]

Here are some experiences shared in November '06 by riders who biked through the downtown-to-Sellwood section after dark.

http://bikeportland.org/forum/showthread.php?t=598

Also, this topic brought an idea to mind. I live in Sellwood and I wanted to participate in the bike rides in memory of Tracy and Brett but didn't because I would have been riding home alone in the dark either through the isolated, unlit, 3-mile long stretch of the trail between Ross Island Sand & Gravel and Sellwood or else on very undesirable streets. In the future, when there are evening bicycle events (hopefully for happier reasons), it would be nice if people in different neighborhoods could organize to ride home together after dark. Or maybe there already is a place where arrangements such as this can be made and I'm not aware of it. Like it or not, the Springwater Trail after dark reveals an arena of modern life where men have a bit more freedom than women.

[Cruizer]

I tested some routes today that I think I would feel safe biking by myself coming home to Westmoreland/Sellwood from downtown after dark and I decided upon:

Hawthorne to Ladd,
Ladd to 21st (The tricky intersection at Division requires patience as the light cycle goes through several steps.)
21st to Clinton
Clinton to 26th
26th to Gladstone
Gladstone to 28th
28th swings around and becomes Bybee; cross the McLaughlin overpass and then you're in Westmoreland.

As Bybee curves past the golf course it is very dark at night and hard to actually see the road in some places. Passing motorists actually provide an assist with their headlights.

[devtchkajenn]

As a woman, I refuse to bike on the springwater trail at night time.

I tried it once during the summer at 4:30am and holy beejus! Talk about most frightening experience ever. I couldn't see, plain and simple. Especially riding through the forest park.

But then again, I start the trail at Flavel over by 92nd and go to 17th.

Tomorrow I am going to be brave and not take the bus to work. Going to explore some alternative routes to get 17th, we'll see how that goes...

[artizin]

Well I've had no problems at all at night... but my lights are blinding I actually might be scaring people away. I've seen a few sketchy people out there at night. I would be reticent to ride that trail alone at night if I was a lady.

right now my girlfriend buses it to downtown, but she want's to start riding her bike, I wouldn't want her riding out there at night alone... but she's not the most confident person on a bike, so the idea of here on the busy streets of portland skirting the river up to the hawthore bridge scares me a little. Especially with recent events involving cyclists and cars/trucks. Spring water seems like the lesser of 2 evils to me... but I wouldn't let her do it alone at night.

[tinaaj]

Originally Posted by Cruizer

Like it or not, the Springwater Trail after dark reveals an arena of modern life where men have a bit more freedom than women.

Well, actually, women and men have the same freedom to use the trail, it's something else you're perceiving holds women back /should hold women back.

Using both phrases "after dark" and "arena of modern life" as you do, it sounds like you think darkness is inherently more dangerous (more likely to incur violence) and that modernity is inherently more safe... neither of which is really true, when you think about it.

Personally, I don't believe I'm more at risk of being stopped, mugged, raped, or killed during the night than the daytime; I should probably in fact be more worried about it during the day...

It's great to hear that (Oregonsis attorneuius) you're ready already to stop and help. That's nice to hear