I live in a nice neighbourhood that's surrounded by really bad neighbourhoods. I've taken self defense classes, and feel generally ok - going out by myself at night. When I was without my licence I had to take transit all the time, and that meant walking waiting in some pretty dodgy areas.

A lot of it's basic common sense. Look like you know where you're going. I carry my purse cross wise accross my body and hold onto it - harder for it to be snatched that way, but if I was ever held up, I''d give it up in a second. I can replace ID / cards not worth getting shot over. Dont' make eye contact with strangers on the bus. Mind your own business on the bus. I know a guy who got beat up really bad becasue he asked some teenagers to turn their music down. Above all don't look afraid.

I used to laugh, there's an AA meeting that I really like that I go to semi-regularly that's attended by a lot of homeless guys living in a city run half way house. I used to go twice a week every week. The guys are generally good guys trying to get their lives back together. But I had to laugh when they'd all insist on walking me to the bus stop and waiting for the bus with me, because "a nice girl like me should be out after dark here" I figured it was pretty bad when even the homeless guys were telling you it wasn't a safe neighbourhood.