What are the safest neighborhoods???? (train, money, rain)

[Huckleberry3911948]

the ones with the least amount of hatred. hatred is without color or gender.

[deechee]

Originally Posted by WhaThe

Is this new? I used to get hassled/hustled on CTA all the time years ago. Used to see a lot of fights too. Guns, insane crackheads, people smoking etc. Hell, I'd openly drink beer once upon a time. It does seem that sometime around 9/11 or so that it kinda stopped. Could have been sooner or later.

Did they increase penalty's and enforcement or are people just nicer and more behaved.

I believe it's a combination of both. Maybe I should state this better: I do not feel uncomfortable riding on CTA buses and trains.

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

the ones with the least amount of hatred. hatred is without color or gender.

You just earned yourself rep points. Great statement.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by WhaThe

Is this new? I used to get hassled/hustled on CTA all the time years ago. Used to see a lot of fights too. Guns, insane crackheads, people smoking etc. Hell, I'd openly drink beer once upon a time. It does seem that sometime around 9/11 or so that it kinda stopped. Could have been sooner or later.

Did they increase penalty's and enforcement or are people just nicer and more behaved.

People are better behaved on the CTA these days. But it differs from neighborhood to neighborhood--and time of day means a lot as well. South Side trains tend to have more fast food trash, loud radios, card trick hustles, etc.

[analyticalkeys]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

People are better behaved on the CTA these days. But it differs from neighborhood to neighborhood--and time of day means a lot as well. South Side trains tend to have more fast food trash, loud radios, card trick hustles, etc.

Card trick hustles? Could you elaborate?

[5Lakes]

While neighborhoods like Norwood Park, Edison Park, or Mount Greenwood may technically be the safest neighborhoods, they also border the suburbs and will probably not give you the urban life you are looking for. Jefferson Park is probably a bit better in that regard, but it is still far from the action. For someone just moving to the city who wants a fairly safe and more laid back neighborhood I would recommend Lincoln Square, North Center, or Roscoe Village. These areas are not hardcore urban, but are still lively and pretty close to downtown.

FYI: Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, and Bucktown are usually at the top of people's list that are moving to the city (at least with younger people). These neighborhoods are pretty safe, but they are active and it's good to have some street smarts. Most of the people moving there are not urban types who are used to city life, they are usually from the burbs or small towns.

[jtown,man]

Originally Posted by 5Lakes

While neighborhoods like Norwood Park, Edison Park, or Mount Greenwood may technically be the safest neighborhoods, they also border the suburbs and will probably not give you the urban life you are looking for. Jefferson Park is probably a bit better in that regard, but it is still far from the action. For someone just moving to the city who wants a fairly safe and more laid back neighborhood I would recommend Lincoln Square, North Center, or Roscoe Village. These areas are not hardcore urban, but are still lively and pretty close to downtown.

FYI: Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, and Bucktown are usually at the top of people's list that are moving to the city (at least with younger people). These neighborhoods are pretty safe, but they are active and it's good to have some street smarts. Most of the people moving there are not urban types who are used to city life, they are usually from the burbs or small towns.

Thanks for sharing the alternatives. What about Albany Park? Is it urban? Safe?

[Drover]

Urban, yes. Safe... well, sort of. By urban standards it's an OK neighborhood, though it can be block-by-block -- million-dollar homes and run-down apartments are block or two away from each other. But more stuff goes on there than your average manicured-suburb dweller would tolerate. There is a fair amount of gang activity, including a number of shootings and a couple homicides per year.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by analyticalkeys

Card trick hustles? Could you elaborate?

For instance, last year I saw a Three Card Monty scam on a 95/Dan Ryan train. I've only ever seen this type of thing once on the North Side, but have seen it multiple times on South/West Side trains. Usually they work in teams where one guy pretends to be a player, and of course he wins some money to make others think it's legit. Then they both get off the train in a big hurry at the same stop after relieving a few suckers of their cash.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by 5Lakes

Most of the people moving there are not urban types who are used to city life, they are usually from the burbs or small towns.

Or they just have money and want to live in a nice neighborhood. People who have made it in life don't typically want to live in an area with gang shootouts.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Drover

Urban, yes. Safe... well, sort of. By urban standards it's an OK neighborhood, though it can be block-by-block -- million-dollar homes and run-down apartments are block or two away from each other. But more stuff goes on there than your average manicured-suburb dweller would tolerate. There is a fair amount of gang activity, including a number of shootings and a couple homicides per year.

Ravenswood Manor and Mayfair are parts of Albany Park that are more uniformly nice.