Safety questions on non-car sightseeing in WPB and PB (Miami: renting, transfer)

[bachslunch]

Was originally considering a day trip up to West Palm Beach and Palm Beach from Miami without using a car or taxis. I dislike renting cars or using taxis (will normally refuse this), and can't ride a bike. Initial research suggested the following to be manageable:

6:23 or 6:53 AM Airport Flyer Bus to Airport – change to commuter rail 7:00 or 7:40 AM departure – go to West Palm Beach station

Take #1 bus to

10:00 AM – Norton Museum of Art
walk to

12:00 PM – Society of the Four Arts
walk to

1:00 PM – Bethesda-by-the-Sea Church
walk to

2:00 PM – Flagler Museum
walk to

4:00 PM – The Breakers
#41 bus from S. County Rd. to WPB train station (3:15, 4:15, 5:15 PM)

On the half hour from 4:30 PM onward, take commuter rail back to Miami.

Note that the amount of walking from the Norton Museum to the Breakers totals ca. 1.5 to 2 miles, which is no problem for me from a physical standpoint.

However, further research suggests that this is likely an unwise itinerary to undertake for safety reasons. Have seen reports of people being robbed at the WPB commuter rail station and understand that the area there and surrounding is awful, and waiting for a bus there can be very unsafe. Have seen concerns about taking public transportation through the general area of WPB between the train station and the Norton Museum, and back to the train station from Palm Beach. Also have seen concerns about the safety of the area around the Norton Museum and of possible spillover into pockets of Palm Beach across the bridges here. All reports suggest downtown WPB and northward are not good either, though I don't expect to be here.

I've done a fair bit of travel and have taken public transport or walked through notably urban areas on main streets during daylight hours in other cities with no ill effects. I also dress down when I travel -- nothing fancy or expensive (jeans, t-shirt, no wrist watch or jewelry). What I'm seeing about the WPB area seems different, and I'm not keen to leave myself open for robbery or assault.

My feeling at this point is to scrap this whole idea.

Feedback is requested to help make a decision.

[exmbdude]

Originally Posted by bachslunch

On the half hour from 4:30 PM onward, take commuter rail back to Miami.

Note that the amount of walking from the Norton Museum to the Breakers totals ca. 1.5 to 2 miles, which is no problem for me from a physical standpoint.

However, further research suggests that this is likely an unwise itinerary to undertake for safety reasons. Have seen reports of people being robbed at the WPB commuter rail station and understand that the area there and surrounding is awful, and waiting for a bus there can be very unsafe. Have seen concerns about taking public transportation through the general area of WPB between the train station and the Norton Museum, and back to the train station from Palm Beach. Also have seen concerns about the safety of the area around the Norton Museum and of possible spillover into pockets of Palm Beach across the bridges here. All reports suggest downtown WPB and northward are not good either, though I don't expect to be here.

I've done a fair bit of travel and have taken public transport or walked through notably urban areas on main streets during daylight hours in other cities with no ill effects. I also dress down when I travel -- nothing fancy or expensive (jeans, t-shirt, no wrist watch or jewelry). What I'm seeing about the WPB area seems different, and I'm not keen to leave myself open for robbery or assault.

My feeling at this point is to scrap this whole idea.

Feedback is requested to help make a decision.

I have not been in that area in a while but when I went to the Norton I usually drove. If you have concerns an alternate route could be to get off at Lake Worth station (Route 62) to US1 (Route 1) or even further south to Boynton (but this is a multi-transfer nightmare to get to US1) The area you describe around the Tamarind avenue WPB station has ebbed and flowed in terms of safety over the years. Generally speaking, you wouldn't find yourself there late at night and the Tri-Rail really doesn't run late into the evening any way. I haven't ridden any of the routes you mentioned but the Lake Worth to 1 option might be your best bet.

[laidbackhippie]

ugh, Lake Worth station is 20 times worse than West Palm. You will be fine other than the idea that you may be trying to fit a lot into one day. Also you may need to eat and you may get pretty hot with all that walking.

If anything, take a cab to the Norton and from Palm Beach. Waiting for a bus will eat up a lot of your time.

Have fun ! !

[TriMT7]

I wouldn't feel unsafe at all. Downtown WPB is safe as any normal city... statistically speaking, much safer than some, such as Atlanta... when you get off the train, simply walk east. Don't venture north of Banyan Blvd. on Tamarind and you will be fine. Find a bus stop or trolley stop deeper into downtown if you are worried. The old ladies , tourists and students will point you in the right direction! It's when you get north into the residential run down neighborhoods north of town that there could be trouble. Your itinterary avoids all of that.

Where are you getting this information that makes you so scared? I know tons of people who live and work downtown with no problems. This isn't 1999 anymore. Most of actual downtown has been gentrified!

[Zayetz]

I walk in the areas you mentioned, every week, for exercise (Norton to Breakers). The area is totally safe and I have never had any issues. I agree that this is a pretty tight schedule if you want to actually have decent look at those sights - maybe consider dropping one between Norton and Breakers? And also, taking a taxi from the airport is the way to go - the buses are not the best way to get around here because of the schedules. Enjoy!

[rainroosty]

The WPB station is living hell suicide! Lake Worth station is 100 times safer! Other than that - I'd scrap the idea anyway.

[exmbdude]

Originally Posted by rainroosty

The WPB station is living hell suicide! Lake Worth station is 100 times safer! Other than that - I'd scrap the idea anyway.

It is doable if you scale back to one or two venues. With a bus, visiting 4 or 5 places isn't realistic on such a tight schedule unless they are all adjacent to each other.

[Zayetz]

Oops - misread that you are coming on the commuter rail. I have used it to go to Miami - my mother-in-law who doesn't drive takes it to Miami for day trips, etc. I guess you just have to go with your comfort level. You can walk from the station to City Place, take a trolley to Clematis, get off and walk across the bridge to the Four Arts and all the other PB places. Just pass on the Norton for the day and do all Palm Beach stuff. There is plenty to do there for a day trip. Anyway, all the sights you mentioned are in safer areas (it doesn't get any safer than Palm Beach, anyway, and the Norton is just a shortish SAFE walk along the intracoastal with nice scenery). Hope you decide to visit.

[rainroosty]

Originally Posted by exmbdude

It is doable if you scale back to one or two venues. With a bus, visiting 4 or 5 places isn't realistic on such a tight schedule unless they are all adjacent to each other.

I agree with you.

[mayorhaggar]

Take a cab from the WPB station to Palm Beach or downtown WPB if you are scared. There might be cabs waiting at the station or if you have a cell phone you could google some phone numbers for WPB cab companies and call one to pick you up. If you are used to Miami then I think you should be ok walking around WPB anyway, downtown WPB is pretty gentrified and prettied up now.

I've been on Tri-Rail a few times from WPB and Lake Worth and the stations aren't that bad at all. Waiting for a bus at the WPB station should be fine. I've seen armed transit cops on Tri-Rail during commuting hours, maybe the stations have guards too though I didn't see one at the Lake Worth station when I was there a few months ago and you never know with budget cuts anyway.

Plus I think the WPB station is also an Amtrak and Greyhound station so there's a lot of people passing through it. More people around = less chance of crime. Criminals like deserted places.