Panhandlers: So what do pedestrians face? (Austin, Buffalo: home, neighborhood, to buy)

[Jehjeh]

I've read a couple of threads on here about panhandlers and scams targeting cars, like the Gateway gas scam, and apparently very aggressive panhandlers at corners along the I-35 frontage road. Obviously there were panhandlers there when I last lived in Austin several years ago, but other than a couple of weird incidents, I didn't encounter anything really bad. (The Red River/6th parking "protection money" scam was just starting up when I left.) Where I am now has panhandlers, but they're generally not aggressive.

The threads make it seem like agressive panhandling and scamming have gotten way worse. Dunno if that's just me reading too much into it, or if things actually have gotten that bad.

Do pedestrians encounter the same aggressiveness from panhandlers when waiting to cross at an intersection? Seriously. When I finally move back to Austin, if I'm walking home from the grocery store, taking the bus, what have you--no car--should I be aware of anything, other than the usual be-aware-of-surroundings?

[Huckleberry3911948]

a thin line between strong armed robbery and aggressive panhandling.

[Jehjeh]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

a thin line between strong armed robbery and aggressive panhandling.

That pretty much describes the street kids on the Drag back in the '90s.

Seriously, though. Austinites, any advice?

[centralaustinite]

The only place in Austin where I've ever encountered aggressive panhandling is on the Drag in the 90s.

I live in central south Austin and I'm in central east and central north every day and I encounter panhandlers every day, including those along I-35. I've never had a problem. In fact I "know" those who live closest to me and encounter them in the quick mart, on the street etc and sometimes we talk -- about their dogs, about the heat, etc. I generally do not give money and I've never had a problem. And I've never seen or heard (super active neighborhood list serve) of anyone having an aggressive encounter with the homeless in the areas where I frequent. They are usually friendly with my kids and I've even had windshield washer (who I tend to be a bit wary of) play hide and seek with my toddlers in the back seat of my car.

It was completely different on the Drag in the 90s, aggressive demeanor, cursing, very unpleasant. Never encountered it anywhere else. I generally don't walk on the Drag daily any more, so I don't know what it is like. I did walk the Drag daily in the early 00s and rarely a had a problem.

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

What is "the Drag"?

[mark311]

Panhandlers are not very aggressive here. And yes, the Drag along Guadalupe on Campus is probably the only place where one of the "kids" might yell at you as you walk away if you ignore them. I definitely wouldn't worry about them at all.

[SacalaitWhisperer]

Originally Posted by Jehjeh

That pretty much describes the street kids on the Drag back in the '90s.

Seriously, though. Austinites, any advice?

Gutterpunks?

Dumpster divers?

I had one guy ask for change because they needed to buy beer.
At least he was honest about what they'd spend the money on.


On an unrelated note, The Horsies used to play at the Hole in the Wall.

[SacalaitWhisperer]

Originally Posted by oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots

What is "the Drag"?

Guadalupe Street, pretty much.

[capcat]

Originally Posted by oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots

What is "the Drag"?

The stretch of Guadalupe that runs by the UT campus is informally referred to as the Drag.

To the south, once Guadalupe crosses MLK, it's not really the Drag anymore. North of UT, I'd consider Buffalo Exchange (the area near 29th street) to still be on the Drag.

[stan4]

My friend Tim was accosted by panhandling kids on the drag. Big mistake...Tim never had any money! So they beat the Moderator cut: language out of him.

Love that Austin attitude towards letting these bums roam free.