Women going solo - is it safe?

[Miss Jane]

Originally Posted by bones_708

On the bonus side you are less likely to be raped than in the UK or knifed than Aus. The over all crime rate isn't really higher and if you take out bad guy on bad guy violence then you could argue(Drug and Gang violence) the crime rate in the US is pretty low with a down right amazing closed case and incarceration rate. It's kind of funny that people are more and more concerned while the crime rate continues to fall but I atribute a lot of that to 24/7 live news and internet.

Thanks to you and Guy Jinbaiquerre, for the information. I'd like to visit the US sometime, but from what I seen and read about the number of people carrying firearms put the wind up me a bit and had me thinking it must be a very dangerous place. As it turns out it's about as safe as anywhere.

[Guy Jinbaiquerre]

Originally Posted by Miss Jane

Thanks to you and Guy Jinbaiquerre, for the information. I'd like to visit the US sometime, but from what I seen and read about the number of people carrying firearms put the wind up me a bit and had me thinking it must be a very dangerous place. As it turns out it's about as safe as anywhere.

If you visit America to ride a motorcycle, your risk of getting in a traffic accident will be much, much higher than your risk of getting shot. Put your effort into riding safe and not getting hit by a cager, and don't worry so much about the shootout at the OK Corral.

I lived in New York for the first 30 years of my life and never even saw a gun carried by someone who wasn't a police officer. But it's always the shocking stories that get the headlines, not the millions of people who go through life without any major hassles.

[Natest]

Originally Posted by Miss Jane

Thanks to you and Guy Jinbaiquerre, for the information. I'd like to visit the US sometime, but from what I seen and read about the number of people carrying firearms put the wind up me a bit and had me thinking it must be a very dangerous place. As it turns out it's about as safe as anywhere.

i have been around the world. well, almost. haven't been to the UK. life can be dangerous. if you take precautions it's an enjoyable life. even thne things can happen. the key is keep moving forward

riding the U.S. will make you tons of friends. people in cars walk up and talk to you while your filling your gas tank, fellow riders are imediately your best friend when you meet on the road, at a gas station, in a restaurant, etc. kids love you and wave as you go by. i love traveling by bike. i agree about the cagers but one thing i have found is that riding has made me a better driver. i am always watchful and you can usually tell if someone is going to make a move. just be aware of your surroundings. don't be in a rush. take lots of pic's and share them with us. oh, and if you share your route with us you will have many friends riding sections of your trip with you. if you don't want us riding with you it's no problem we understand but it's there for you if you want it. plus there are some awesome mechanics on here who can help if needed. great network. but as far as danger goes here in the U.S. it's not real dangerous. per capita(?SP?) it's probably way under 1%. less then 1% is almost non-existant.

now, how about where you live? is it about the same? we usually only get the bad news about your area's over there on tv.

[bones_708]

Originally Posted by Miss Jane

Thanks to you and Guy Jinbaiquerre, for the information. I'd like to visit the US sometime, but from what I seen and read about the number of people carrying firearms put the wind up me a bit and had me thinking it must be a very dangerous place. As it turns out it's about as safe as anywhere.

We're a bit of a strange lot to others. While the risk is much less here than many places self reliance and independence is so ingrained in a large number of people that the idea that they might ever be "helpless" is not to be tolerated at all. The rest of the world just plays the odds and just doesn't worry about it.

Truth is while there are lots of guns, trust me in Texas even many kids have them, there is little to no threat of violence from legally owned and carried firearms. In the rural areas of the country where the guns are much more prevalent, with more guns than people, you have the lowest crime rates. Now that does not automatically follow that guns reduce violence but the evidence does conclusively show that legal firearms do not increase crime at all.

[Miss Jane]

Originally Posted by Guy Jinbaiquerre

If you visit America to ride a motorcycle, your risk of getting in a traffic accident will be much, much higher than your risk of getting shot. Put your effort into riding safe and not getting hit by a cager, and don't worry so much about the shootout at the OK Corral.

Now that's sounding just like home.

I guess bad news not only travels fast but also makes $ for the media empires.

I've traveled a bit and mostly felt fairly safe,...................or ignorant, but I got away with it.

Australia is a great place to travel, we are a friendly lot on the whole too. Not much to be worried about over here, the snakes mostly keep our of your way, but the crocs will enjoy a taste. Being sensible and doing thinks like carrying plenty of water with you is probably more important than anything. Slightly wacky sense of humour though.

The main reasons I want to visit the US is to see the National Parks, go rock climbing and visit some of the Art Galleries, oh and ride in some of your desert areas. Looks awesome.

[Natest]

Originally Posted by Miss Jane

Now that's sounding just like home.

I guess bad news not only travels fast but also makes $ for the media empires.

I've traveled a bit and mostly felt fairly safe,...................or ignorant, but I got away with it.

Australia is a great place to travel, we are a friendly lot on the whole too. Not much to be worried about over here, the snakes mostly keep our of your way, but the crocs will enjoy a taste. Being sensible and doing thinks like carrying plenty of water with you is probably more important than anything. Slightly wacky sense of humour though.

The main reasons I want to visit the US is to see the National Parks, go rock climbing and visit some of the Art Galleries, oh and ride in some of your desert areas. Looks awesome.

the "news" people like to make mountains out of mole hills as the saying goes
i grew up in Minnesota but lived in Southern California for 15 years. in the winter i would hear on the news that Mn was having a white out blizzard and i would call the family and ask how it was going and they would laugh because it had snowed maybe 1" which is NOT even close to a white out. same with them calling me about HUGE earth quakes. they would call worried because the news said there was a huge earthquake and it was barely a 4.0 which is little more then shaking the house a little. so there you have it.

i love the national parks and visit them as often as i can. the climbs are well worth the effort. research an order of visiting tho. for instance, if you visit Glacier National Park before Yellowstone, you might be disapointed with Yellowstone. i'm not trying to start any debates about which is better, i'm just sayin that some places may be better saved for last
oh, and we love whacky sense's of humor

[TigerLilly]

I've travelled thousands and thousands of miles solo on my bikes. I've never had a problem except this one time, which I'll get to in a minute. I try to get off the road fairly early by about 5PM. I don't usually make reservations and have only had problems finding accomodations once when I got into Salmon, Idaho and all the rooms were taken in town because of a big forest fire that had blocked the road north. I lucked out in the end and found something. I like a beer after a long days ride so I'll find a brew pub or something similar and have a beer or two and some dinner at the bar. I often talk to people but don't say where I'm staying and try to get back to wherever I'm staying by 7 or 8 PM. These common sense rules have always worked for me. People have always been very friendly and helpful.

Everyone alweays worries about what is the worst thing that can happen. I had the worst thing happen. I was coming home from a solo trip from Arizona to Canada and back and got t-boned on the Navajo reservation in northern AZ by a 3/4 ton pickup. I broke many bones and probably should be dead but I ended up in the hospital. People took care of me. The paramedics even made sure all my gear was taken off the bike and brought to the ER with me. It was many, many months before I could ride or even walk again. The point is, I still ride. I still ride solo a lot. The worst happened and I survived it and the thing I realized is that the outcome would not have been any different if someone had been with me. So I ride. And you should too. .../TL

[BikerBill]

Sarahp,

While out on a month long road trip in 2008 I met three women on their way out west as I was on east bound on my return trip home. They each rode their own Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Two were on Road Kings and the other one was riding an old ex-police Electra Glide. The youngest one was 67 years old! And this wasn't their first road trip either!

If you have common sense and listen to your "little voice" that alerts you to possible threats you should be okay.

Criminal activity can happen to anyone, anyplace, anytime but it doesn't usually happen to those that are aware of their surroundings and act accordingly. If something doesn't seem right there's probably a reason dontcha think?

10,000 miles in a year is pretty good for a new rider. Welcome to my world! I hope you enjoy everything motorcycling has to offer. Been doing this for over 40 yrs and each new adventure is just as exciting as the first one.

Bill

[rogerc]

I have a really, really good sense when trouble is close etc. and it has saved me several times.
If my son or daughter was traveling alone across country I would do what ever I could to have them find some type of traveling partner.
Having a partner really cuts your chances of running into trouble.
With certain jobs I have had I have had lots of contacts with some very dangerous individuals. Just be aware that they are out there and trust no one and always leave yourself an out.
There are certain places I no longer travel due to the drug trade, growing areas, and just plain political nuts with guns. I have run into them and because I had an out pre planned it worked out okay.
Please be careful.
RC

[Tripped1]

Originally Posted by Miss Jane

Thanks to you and Guy Jinbaiquerre, for the information. I'd like to visit the US sometime, but from what I seen and read about the number of people carrying firearms put the wind up me a bit and had me thinking it must be a very dangerous place. As it turns out it's about as safe as anywhere.

Arguably safer, and I've traveled all over the world.

One may note for all the noise that people make about gun violence Americans kill a LOT and I mean 6-7 times as many people with cars as we do with guns...and a 1/3 of those gun casualties are suicides.

The US isn't Tokyo where I've walked back and forth across that city repeatedly over there years, usually slobber nockered junk, and barely speaking any japanese and never even got into a sketchy sistuation...much less dangerous.

[dreadly]

anyone know what became of the OP?

[Chicken Helmet]

Originally Posted by dreadly

anyone know what became of the OP?

Last Activity: Today 11:12 AM

[GypsyWriter]

Originally Posted by dreadly

anyone know what became of the OP?

Still here, still riding. Getting close to 10k personal miles (since I got her last May, she's actually close to 28k now) on my We. And don't see myself quitting anytime soon.

I continue getting flack from my parents but I've as yet (knock on wood) crashed or died so they've toned it down a wee bit. My mom still tells me not to let anyone know I'm a girl - gee mom, easy enough to do when I'm moving (aside from the red ponytail and butterfly helmet) but the jig is up when I stop and take the lid off!

Truth be told, I'm not an idiot. I don't ride recklessly (I'm like grandma on the bike, scout's honor), I'm ATGATT, I know the risks and things that can go wrong so mitigate as best I can. I'm a soloist by nature and have yet to find a riding partner to go on adventures with and I'm okay with this. Maybe I'm a tad trusting but I'm good at meeting people and I've yet to have any issues. I always let people know where I am, have basic knowledge of my bike and accessories (trying to expand that knowledge), and, well... I try to have fun. Sure what I like to do can be construed as dangerous but so is taking the family SUV to the forest to camp. OMG what if a bear eats you!!? I don't know if I'll ever go the gun option but I always have pepper spray, a knife and I'm thinking of getting a little nightstick, but so far I haven't needed it.

Nyeh, if guys can do it why can't I?

[Süsser Tod]

BF is supportive but won't go with you on a trip? Weird...

I'd love to have someone to go with me on motorcycle trips. I guess people will never appreciate what they have.

[GypsyWriter]

Originally Posted by Süsser Tod

BF is supportive but won't go with you on a trip? Weird...

I'd love to have someone to go with me on motorcycle trips. I guess people will never appreciate what they have.

There's usually a decent excuse (no money for gas, work/school, bike is broken etc) but honestly I tend to be spontaneous and he's more of a planner. He tells me he wants to come along but I know he's a wuss about the cold (baby if you're reading this I looooooove you) and not much of a long distance rider (I have more "padding" on the seat than he does ). It's hard to accomodate him so I usually don't and he's okay with that. (well, mostly - not that he has much choice but he's usually a good sport as long as I keep in touch)

I hope eventually he'll get his stuff together and we can ride but that may grate with me as I enjoy solo, being able to plan my own way. I guess we shall see. :)