Walking In Berkeley at night, what's the worst that could happen? (Oakland: neighborhood, university)

[Cliobouge]

I have noticed many posts from UC Berkeley students recently in the forum. However, no one asked about safety.

I live in South Berkeley and must walk to the campus because I am on a tight student budget. I do not own a car, nor a bike.

I am worried about my safety. Yesterday, there was a bike party in Berkeley where everybody was dancing and smoking weed in People's Park!! I was shocked as I am not from here, I am an international student.

Anyhow, will I be safe If I walked alone at night coming back from the university? Or from a bar on weekends?

[SyCo]

Keep your head up and make sure everyone is aware that you notice them. Never put on headphones walking unless you know a sizeable portion of the neighborhood. You'll be okay man, just remember, the moment you take an area lightly will be the moment you're reminded to stay alert. I've had a few friends that have lived in and around Ashby and North Oakland and I had only one issue that was my own fault. Luckily I identified it quick and improvised.

[bmw335xi]

The so called accepting and tolerant Bay Area where you cant even wear headphones when you walk outside, what a joke.

[HockeyMac18]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

The so called accepting and tolerant Bay Area where you cant even wear headphones when you walk outside, what a joke.

That's just general advice for any urban city. Be aware of your surroundings! I can't think of any major city, no matter how nice/"safe", where that advice wouldn't apply. Can you???

That said, I walk around Berkeley at night often and am not worried about my safety. Take that for what you will.

[Perma Bear]

Originally Posted by HockeyMac18

That's just general advice for any urban city. Be aware of your surroundings! I can't think of any major city, no matter how nice/"safe", where that advice wouldn't apply. Can you???

That said, I walk around Berkeley at night often and am not worried about my safety. Take that for what you will.

Berkeley is more of a "leave it to beaver" suburb than an urban city.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by HockeyMac18

That's just general advice for any urban city. Be aware of your surroundings! I can't think of any major city, no matter how nice/"safe", where that advice wouldn't apply. Can you???

That said, I walk around Berkeley at night often and am not worried about my safety. Take that for what you will.

1) Berkeley is not a major city or urban city
2) Most cities you have no problem listening to music when walking outside

[jade408]

Originally Posted by Cliobouge

I have noticed many posts from UC Berkeley students recently in the forum. However, no one asked about safety.

I live in South Berkeley and must walk to the campus because I am on a tight student budget. I do not own a car, nor a bike.

I am worried about my safety. Yesterday, there was a bike party in Berkeley where everybody was dancing and smoking weed in People's Park!! I was shocked as I am not from here, I am an international student.

Anyhow, will I be safe If I walked alone at night coming back from the university? Or from a bar on weekends?

Bike party is a really low key event. Police officers in the state of California do not care about weed. And the biggest concern about public weed smoking is that your convenience store will be out of your favorite cookies and chips.

But not all areas around campus are equally safe. Walk in groups as much as possible and stick to well lit streets with foot traffic. It is much safer than when I was a student around South Berkeley. Just use some basic urban common sense. Stay aware. Put your cell phone away. And if you feel like someone is following you - make a stop in a store or restaurant or whatever and wait until they are gone.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

The so called accepting and tolerant Bay Area where you cant even wear headphones when you walk outside, what a joke.

Wearing headphones can leave you less aware of your surroundings. Common sense. If you wear headphones keep the volume low enough for you to hear cars and people that are approaching behind you.

[Chuck5000]

One could be accosted by an uptight, judgmental person of apparent privilege who constantly complains that they're threatened by the beliefs of the people who are part of the democratically elected political majority in the region. It's an ironic experience.

[HockeyMac18]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

1) Berkeley is not a major city or urban city
2) Most cities you have no problem listening to music when walking outside

It is a major urban city. It basically functions like an outer borough of NY.

And I listen to music on my headphones at night there often. That doesn't mean I let my guard down, though.

Same advice for any city. You don't seem very well traveled? Which is weird because you seem to talk about all of the places you have lived.