Is bicycling along the Sana Ana River bikepath safe at night? (Santa Ana: travel, salary)

[hannah555]

Hi,
I have been looking at the bike path maps of O.C and there seems to be a paved bikeway all the way along the santa ana river from the coast to The Block at Orange (near where I will be working).

And so I was wondering if anyone knew if it is safe to cycle here at night? Is it a lit path? Do many people use it? I am hoping to manage without a car (well may have no choice due to rubbish salary!!) and so wanted to know if a bike was a viable option!
Thanks

[RAMFEB31]

In reference to the S.A. River Trail

Of course, I have not travelled the full length for a number of years, but I have done the East end from about the #57 to about Weir Canyon last year and off and on the past 3 years. There are no lights except some nearby home lights and street lights from the streets overpass. This area, in my opinion is quite safe but I would never do it during the nite this length of path or the rest of the length of path toward the ocean. The path through the S.A. area goes near some pretty rough neighborhood. As with the East link, I don't remember seeing any lit paths throughout. I would suggest riding only during daylight hours.

[bhcompy]

i couldnt tell you about that specifically, but i wouldnt bet on it honestly. coyote creek runs through la palma, lakewood, etc down to the beach and is fine during the day but at night the situation changes. perhaps if you had a concealed carry permit you'd be a bit safer but it would probably be better to just avoid it.

looking at the map, it seems a decent enough route, but no guarantees

[EscapeCalifornia]

Its safe enough during the day but I wouldn't ride it at night without a Marine escort.

[bob-jenkins]

Ummm, its kind of strange to see people riding it at night. People might think your weird.

[hannah555]

when i say at night I just really meant after work in the dark, rather than in the dead of night!! I will be working as a researcher so will have varied hours- won't just be 9-5 and so may be cycling home at latest of 9-10pm. Doesn't sound too promising though!!!

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by hannah555

Hi,
I have been looking at the bike path maps of O.C and there seems to be a paved bikeway all the way along the santa ana river from the coast to The Block at Orange (near where I will be working).

And so I was wondering if anyone knew if it is safe to cycle here at night? Is it a lit path? Do many people use it? I am hoping to manage without a car (well may have no choice due to rubbish salary!!) and so wanted to know if a bike was a viable option!
Thanks

It has been many years but I use to ride that bike path from Fairview and Segerstrom all the way up and back after work 3-5 days a week. Unless it has changed I would not make it a regular trek, at least after dark. During the years I rode it I only had to stop a few times to fix flats but after dark it gets real seedy. If I remember correctly during that time 2 bodies were dumped along the side and I know drug deals were pretty regular especially when you get near any parks. The really only bad parts were when you got in the Santa Ana area.

Be real careful after rains to, even when it dries out there is often debris in the crossovers. I don't know if it is as heavily ridden as it was when I was doing it but during daylight hours with good weather it was pretty heavily trafficked with people looking for a quick spin.

Risking sounding sexist I will say that if you are a woman I would definitely say no. I also remember some a couple assaults on women. Keep in my this was many years ago and over a 5-7 year span that I was riding it regularly.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Soccersupporter

Be real careful after rains to, even when it dries out there is often debris in the crossovers. I don't know if it is as heavily ridden as it was when I was doing it but during daylight hours with good weather it was pretty heavily trafficked with people looking for a quick spin.

I forgot about it until you mentioned it, but there's a point where the trail goes down into the river and crosses from one side to the other. It takes very little water to cover the trail. If you misjudge the amount of water at night, you could easily get swept off your bike and into the water. Its been years since I rode that trail, but the crossover I'm thinking of is somewhere between Slater and the stadium.

[Mach50]

I would say that around Yorba Linda it is safe 24 hours a day.
Around Huntington Beach it is not, and maybe not even in the day time.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Mach50

Around Huntington Beach it is not, and maybe not even in the day time.

True. There are a number of homeless living in the bushes along the trail in HB.