Do Women and Children Feel Safe Walking in Deserted Areas in NOVA?

[oneasterisk]

Moderator Cut

I'm not that old, 30 to be exact, and I remember feeling safe walking around the woods in NOVA but maybe 'cause I'm a guy and I've been in the jungles of Guam and the Philippines. I've also gone to state parks and ran the trails by myself without worries. I've never gone at night, but why would I go running at night as it's hard to see and I like to look at nature while I'm running.

[GreenGene]

It's the times we live in, seemingly no matter where you live, that a healthy dose of caution and "street smarts" is called for when one goes anywhere.

I don't often go walking at night, but that's more because I go to bed early (and get up early) rather than being fearful of walking on our street or in our neighborhood at night.

But no matter where/when I walk, and whether I have company or not, I always have my cell phone with me and turned on, and I am always aware of my surroundings. I think that's just being prudent.

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by FairfaxGuy73

Part of the problem is that there is crime, even if statistics say that it's not likely to happen to you. An example is the couple that were brutally beaten, one to death, in the Landsdowne area of Loudnoun County. This is a very affluent area, but some hoodlums spent 15 minutes driving there to commit the crime.

Was this the crime where the husband was dragged out to that small bridge (Goose Creek nr Rte 7?), by a bunch of guys in a van. And then shortly thereafter, the wife was beaten to death too?

I think there were something fishy about this story--I think the guy was former CIA or something like that?

Back to your original question -- I think it depends exactly where one would choose to walk. If it's a neighborhood or some familiar place, that's one thing. But I remember muggings/attacks happening along the biking trail in Arlington and some creeps on the George Mason U campus (lots of trees). But like GreenGene said, it has alot to do about being aware of one's surroundings.

I agree about the city-issue and walking: I would feel more comfortable late at night in the city instead of a heavily-wooded area. I grew up in a wooded area and there was always talk about how people "disappear" in the woods.