How safe is it for a teenage girl to go through East Garfield Park? (Chicago: high crime, neighborhoods)

[rubycanoe]

I need to get to 445 N. Sacramento Blvd., which from my house, would require me either to wait for a bus at Sacramento and Chicago, or walk for about 10 minutes from Chicago (after taking the 66). I would be traveling during the daytime on weekdays. I assume it's not a good idea to go that way at night.

Whatever the route, I'm somewhat reluctant to just be outside in the neighborhood for that long since I'm a pretty defenseless looking 18 year old girl, and Asian, so I'll already draw some attention to myself.

I've walked through the edge of Englewood before, but that was just once and I'm more concerned about East Garfield because I would be traveling there so often.

I should add that I don't have a car to get there, but carpooling is a slight possibility.

Should I take the CTA, find a ride, completely avoid the place? Any insight is appreciated. Thanks

[Alacran]

I wouldn't reccomend it >.>

[emathias]

I don't think you'd necessarily have a problem, but I wouldn't want to walk that route mostly because it's so industrialized and you have to walk under a long railroad viaduct. It would just be a sucky walk, even if it were perfectly safe.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by rubycanoe

I'm a pretty defenseless looking 18 year old girl, and Asian, so I'll already draw some attention to myself.

Some Asian girls look anything but defenseless.

[It'sAutomatic]

That area is barely in East Garfield Park. It's a sparse industrial area. You'll be next to a busy street and probably not see many people. I think it's fine.

[rubycanoe]

Oh man, I wish I could pull that off. In my defense, I don't think these girls are Asian. The latter picture has women probably from Israel given the sign behind them.

[rubycanoe]

Thanks for the feedback. If anyone else has tips, feel free to let me know.

[rparz]

The OP sounds new to the city. Basic tips when on the street, or anywhere in the city. El, bus, whatever: Don't look like a mark.

Some of this may sound basic, but I'm surprised how many people don't do the simple things:

Be aware of your surroundings. Keep an eye on people around you, things that look suspicious etc.
When walking, look like you have a sense of purpose, don't dilly dally.
Don't have your ipod on, play with your phone, advertise you have any valuables.

I'm amazed how many people look like their oblivious to things going on around them, have their ipods so damn loud on the train, or playing with their phones / ipad on the el. Just asking for someone to walk by at a stop run by, swipe it, and out the door before you know what happened.

Just be smart out there.

[Lizita]

I wouldn't worry about going through that area during the day. Unless you're a gangbanger or mixing with criminal element the risk that anything will happen to you is pretty small. It's really not as dangerous as people tend to think. It definitely a high crime area but the vast majority of crime victims in that area are other criminals. I used to have a couple of good friends living around there. One lived on Lake Street right by Garfield Park and the other one lived on Chicago and Homan. I've spent a lot of time in that area and never had a problem (I'm a white, young female). The only trouble I had was one time when a very drunk woman came up and started yelling at me but drunk people are everywhere. This was also in the evening.
Just avoid looking scared or nervous. Walk like you belong there. Most likely nobody will bother you.

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by rubycanoe

I need to get to 445 N. Sacramento Blvd., which from my house, would require me either to wait for a bus at Sacramento and Chicago, or walk for about 10 minutes from Chicago (after taking the 66). I would be traveling during the daytime on weekdays. I assume it's not a good idea to go that way at night.

Whatever the route, I'm somewhat reluctant to just be outside in the neighborhood for that long since I'm a pretty defenseless looking 18 year old girl, and Asian, so I'll already draw some attention to myself.

I've walked through the edge of Englewood before, but that was just once and I'm more concerned about East Garfield because I would be traveling there so often.

I should add that I don't have a car to get there, but carpooling is a slight possibility.

Should I take the CTA, find a ride, completely avoid the place? Any insight is appreciated. Thanks

What do you do for a job that would take you to Englewood and East Garfield Park?? You are a defenseless looking 18 year old Asian girl traveling there by yourself?

Why could ever take you to these neighborhoods as someone in your situation? I'm sure you may very well be very streetsmart, but I would very much think hard about walking through neighborhoods like these as an 18 year old Asian girl.