Is the Pinellas Bike Trail Safe? (Tarpon Springs, Seminole: condo, credit card, live) - Tampa Bay - Florida (FL) -Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater - City-Data Forum

icorvidae · 07-02-2009, 04:22 PM

Would a single woman out for exercise also be out for a personal saftey threat? I didn't see many folks on it, but that could have been the killer humidity. Can I expect to feel safe alone? Thanks.

I am looking at a condo in Seminole, so I would pick the trail up at 70th ave in Seminole.

saintpetegirl · 07-02-2009, 04:51 PM

The trail is *huge* - it spans from downtown St. Pete all the way to to Tarpon Springs.
Which specific part did you have a question about?

goi_cuon · 07-02-2009, 05:12 PM

Place on the trail matters. Time of day matters. Presence or absence of malicious people matters.

A lot of times I felt perfectly safe on my own here or there when I was not. Other times I have felt at risk when I was safe.

Give us a little more info and we'll be able to give you more meaningful responses.

icorvidae · 07-02-2009, 05:19 PM

I didn't realize the trail was so long!

Ceramictec · 07-02-2009, 08:51 PM

http://www.pinellascounty.org/trailgd/PDF/Locator.pdf

http://www.pinellascounty.org/trailgd/PDF/Seminole.pdf

WestcoastBrit · 07-02-2009, 10:48 PM

I lived on 69th avenue with the trail at the back of my house. Never heard of any problems in the 5 years I was there. My wife would jog all the way down to Target and go north for 3 or 4 miles and never felt unsafe. There was one incident involving an unleashed dog but the owner of Honest Engine (70th ave) came out and helped. Hope this helps.

tjax1000 · 07-03-2009, 08:20 PM

I'd say the activity also matters. I've ridden the whole thing round trip on my road bike, and I'm not a fast rider, but even just averaging around 15 mph, nobody is really going to mess with you at that speed. OTOH you could end up with a flat tire or something and be stuck walking.

I didn't see anyone malicious, but who knows, there could have been some areas closer to the St. Pete end where it might have been a little strange if I were a single woman just out for a stroll. If this is a true Rail-to-Trail (is it?), it means it was once the route of a railroad train... trains go though good areas and not so good areas. Some of the areas are very, very safe. For example, the trail runs right though downtown Dunnedin.

I was out today to a park on the bay front in St. Pete and didn't see hardly anyone. It really surprised me for a long weekend- but remember, most people either don't want to or just cannot physically tolerate the heat and humidity.

matt_sfl · 07-03-2009, 09:54 PM

Just bring an extra 10 bucks on you in case you run into a pack of locals that want to charge you a toll.

tjax1000 · 07-04-2009, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt_sfl

Just bring an extra 10 bucks on you in case you run into a pack of locals that want to charge you a toll.

Wait- are you telling me the "Pinellas Trail Pass Mini" that they sold me for my bike for $4.99 wasn't necessary? Crap- I the website they had me go to to put in my credit card info wasn't real either!