As a female, would you walk from Midtown Marta station... (Atlanta: condo, townhome)

[Vate1]

As a female, would you walk from the Midtown Marta station, by yourself, several blocks toward your condo near Piedmont Park, as part of your regular commute, if you normally don't get off work until 9:30PM?

My wife and I are looking to move from Roswell to Midtown, near the park. We are empty nesters looking to make a change. My wife (mid 40's) works on Hospital Hill near Peachtree Dunwoody and I285. However, she frequently works a later shift which keeps her at work until 9:30 or 10PM. So she would be making the walk between 10 and 11PM.

I'm looking for opinions please. We are not overly fearful people - our kids always walked or biked to school, here in the 'burbs, but we know people who won't walk to their mailbox without locking the front door. Thanks.

[Iconographer]

Honestly, I would not walk that route at night by myself...with an escort, yes.

[hokiehigh]

Really? That kind of stinks. Why would you have mass transit if even the nicest areas are too dangerous to walk alone? That is really sad. I was thinking if I moved to Atlanta in a few months I would want to live in Midtown.

[plessthanpointohfive]

Hmm...I can't say. I know that I don't have a problem walking the half mile from Little 5 Points to my house during those hours. However my neighborhood is admittedly less busy than midtown.

I'd check the area out around 10pm. Maybe it's very well lit.

Also, check the bus routes from the Midtown MARTA station...maybe a bus passes near your condo.

[netdragon]

Of all places, that's probably one of the safer, but well, it's a city... so... anything could happen. As a female, would you walk along Central Park in NYC at 10PM?

I'd probably do a taxi. I would talk with an accountant to see if it's deductible.

[lastminutemom]

could you not go and meet her each evening? Will her employer shuttle her to the MARTA station at the Medical Center? Will you be working nights as well?

What is the homeless population in that area? I am trying to visualize it. I know that the area around the North Avenue station has gotten better but still isn't great in terms of people loitering.

I probably wouldn't -- and I am no scardy cat. I think that a woman alone is always more vulnerable and one with a set pattern in a sparseley populated area (which during the week that late, it might be) is a problem

Again though, why not just pick her up.

[Atlantasfinest]

M girlfriend is in and out of town (Flight Attendant) and usually rides the Marta from The Ashby Marta Station MARTA - Getting There - Rail Schedules & Maps (http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/index-rail.htm - broken link) to get to my place since we are about 1/4 of a city block from the Station in a new Townhome/Condo subdivision Westside Town Homes.

If it's dark outside (Normally after 8pm these days) I meet her as soon as she gets of the train inside of the station and we both walk to my place from the station. If she comes during the day she just comes right in because there are alot of people walking to and from teh station with the Atlanta University Center and the shopping center/other business humming all day so there is nothing to worry about on the surface.

I would suggest you meet her at the station even though the area around the Midtown station is considered more "safe" than the area I live in. You just never know what can happen and who's watching on that train especially if she is coming home the same time every evening. There are some sickos out there who think on a crazy level so just take the pre-cautions. Plus you can get some excercise and enjoy the nice pleasant walk home .

[Vate1]

Thank you for your thoughtful replies. As a couple of you indicated, the obvious solution is for me to meet her there. However, I travel frequently for business, so I am not consistently around. Clearly we could decide that if I'm home, I can escort her, but if I'm traveling, she can drive to work.

I'm going to check it out tonight and one night next week, though I'm not sure that warm June evenings are very indicative of pedestrian traffic patterns in the cold nights of January.

One of the places we are looking at is the Dakota, which is only about 4-5 blocks away. 10 minute walk, max.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by hokiehigh

Really? That kind of stinks. Why would you have mass transit if even the nicest areas are too dangerous to walk alone? That is really sad. I was thinking if I moved to Atlanta in a few months I would want to live in Midtown.

Please understand that my response applies to that situation in any neighborhood...as a middle-aged woman, I simply won't wander around at night by myself; that is a personal decision. It's not a reflection on the neighborhood at all.

[lastminutemom]

First, June is absolutely not the same as January.

Second, what if you are out of town and something happens at work and instead of 11 it is 2 am? Or she doesn't make it home, who would know.

I am not a worrywart, having lived in major cities all my life. This worries me though -- especially as Atlanta's finest said, she will have a predictable pattern.

Any chance of changing her work schedule along with your location?