This weekend in DELRAY BEACH looking at homes! areas to avoid (Key West: real estate, rental)

[AFD]

I want to take advantage of the low real estate prices in Downton Delray beach and buy a house now. I have been told to stay East of Swinton and away from 10TH and Linton is this accurate? I cannot afford to be east of the Intercoastal. So i'm concentrating my search as close to the shops and restaurants on ATLANTIC ave..I'm thinking of renting a scooter as I have a list of over 100 homes to look at in the downtown area some have already closed escrow but it gives me a good idea what i can get in my budget.
1. ANY SCOOTER RENTAL PLACES NEAR DELRAY BEACH?
2. IS THERE A HELMET LAW?
3. AM I putting myself in danger cruising around with my wife on a scooter in downtown area?
Thanks

[Jchiamom]

Personally, I wouldn't go house hunting on a scooter during the summer time in south Florida.. The summer rain pops up throughout the day, could make for a very messy day of sight seeing!

[MisterJohnnyT]

I would not ride a scooter ANYWHERE in South Florida... There are way too many geriatric drivers on strong narcotics, spoiled 16-year-olds with new porsches, pill-mill addicts on oxycodone, and unlicensed illegal immigrants all driving together on the same roads just looking for people to accidentally drive into.
As far as safe places to live, you should use google maps and their "street view" feature to check out the areas you are interested in. You could also search for palm beach county or Delray crime maps or sex offender maps.

[allenk893]

I don't think anyone in South Florida would advise you to come down on a scooter. I have lived close to Delray and used to go there nearly everyday when I used to live in S. FL and it's definitely not scooter-friendly. Not to mention S. FL gets alot of rain. Last time I was there, it rained every other day. So that wouldn't be nice if you were on a scooter and you got soaked. If I were you, I would just rent a car for the day.

[AFD]

Thanks all living in Seattle im used to rain however im glad i rented a car sunny and 90 degrees there should not b rain but there was sat....I settled on delray beach and concentrating my home search in downtown delray beach no more than 10 blocks south of Atlantic ave and no more than 10 blocks east of A1A this is a tough area i looked at 19 homes all had multiple offers. Did not know the area was that hot..
MOVING TO DOWNTOWN DELRAY IN DEC 2011

[DelrayNative]

I disagree with 95% of this info because there are MANY more areas that are great in Delray than just where you mentioned. I would say the only place to avoid is the corridor that is Linton to the South, Atlantic Avenue to the North, Swinton Ave to the East and I-95 to the West. If you just stay out of that small area for the most part, every place else is great. The area I mentioned is lower income, mostly rental and homes built in the late to mid 50's. After living here all my 52 years - the area I mentioned is the only area I would avoid. Also, with regards to the scooter info. We have no helmet law in Florida although I would HIGHLY recommend wearing one. Our average resident is 72-79 years old and I have seen lots of accidents and near misses involving not just scooters but motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians. Generally, if you aren't driving a two ton vehicle while on the roads in Delray you should practice an extreme awareness of other drivers, vehicles etc. We have many roads that are one way and two of those roads are our two of our main traffic routes. I have often had to avoid a head on collision because a tourist that is lost or an elderly person with poor sight or even some of the immigrants from countrys that don't even have paved roads, are driving down a main road going the wrong way into oncoming traffic. Also, I am not aware of any place that rents the scooters like is the common practice in places like Key West etc, but I have often said that we need it.

[Snowbird100]

Originally Posted by DelrayNative

I disagree with 95% of this info because there are MANY more areas that are great in Delray than just where you mentioned. I would say the only place to avoid is the corridor that is Linton to the South, Atlantic Avenue to the North, Swinton Ave to the East and I-95 to the West. If you just stay out of that small area for the most part, every place else is great. The area I mentioned is lower income, mostly rental and homes built in the late to mid 50's. After living here all my 52 years - the area I mentioned is the only area I would avoid. Also, with regards to the scooter info. We have no helmet law in Florida although I would HIGHLY recommend wearing one. Our average resident is 72-79 years old and I have seen lots of accidents and near misses involving not just scooters but motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians. Generally, if you aren't driving a two ton vehicle while on the roads in Delray you should practice an extreme awareness of other drivers, vehicles etc. We have many roads that are one way and two of those roads are our two of our main traffic routes. I have often had to avoid a head on collision because a tourist that is lost or an elderly person with poor sight or even some of the immigrants from countrys that don't even have paved roads, are driving down a main road going the wrong way into oncoming traffic. Also, I am not aware of any place that rents the scooters like is the common practice in places like Key West etc, but I have often said that we need it.

Very informative !

Could you elaborate more about traffic, accidents (72-79 yrs old/drivers who tried to run into other cars for false insurance claims) ?

I am not 72 years old but the accidents described here pretty scary as there are seniors with poor eye sight driving on 1 way traffic and drivers running into other cars for insurance claims etc ...

Is it relatively safe if I simply avoid that section (W Atlantic/Swinton/Linton/I95) ?

Thanks

[veggienut]

When I have traveled here, I drove everywhere and had no issues that I recall. I thought ya all are better drivers than we are here in KY