Interesting morning..

yes. Two words.

Kitty Genovese.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect

I think the best thing you can do is try and remain with others or indoors as much as you can.

If you have a mobile/cell phone...carry it with you at ALL times. If you have a speed dial and/or favourite people facility on your phone, add in the closest friends you have to these tools. If you ever feel threatened or unsafe, you can call the people you have on your phone and talk to them whilst you find somewhere safe or can get indoors. Obviously you can also call 911 (or the local emergency service number) if you feel you are at risk of any harmful behaviour from others. If you pass somebody suspicious you may also find calling anybody and talking to them on the phone until you get away from the suspicious person helpful.

Next thing to consider is a rape/attack alarm. They are noisy; attract attention and best of all: scare people off.

In SOME states pepper spray IS legal. But you can always get something (like a can of deodorant) and try to make it look like pepper spray. It's threatening if somebody begins to act abusive towards you. And obviously if you DO use pepper spray on somebody and it's legal to own on your person but not to use on people...if you are at definite risk it IS legal.

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Anyway...I hope you're feeling a little better now Anika. If you ever need to talk you know the drill (:

RB ♥

I'd never count on anyone saving me, regardless of where I was. Nonetheless, I really hate to think that we can bring all of humanity's behavior down to one person's experience. No matter how well documented (and obviously terrible). Just to restore, however small, your faith in humanity... just last week, my BF, changing back into clothes at 3 am, went to check on the safety of a neighbor we don't even know in the midst of a domestic disturbance where we'd just heard a lot of yelling and then what sounded like someone being thrown against a wall. Scary? Yes. Dangerous? Definitely. But nonetheless, yes, a total stranger went to help, in the middle of the night, in the city. Without hesitation.
It happens.

uh, let me guess, they said "everything is fine"

should've called the police.

Yes, this.

I wouldn't count on anyone saving me. But the odds are better if there are people around than if not. Even just having a witness in the case of something happening could be helpful. In the past people have told me that they thought I was scary! (at the time I wore all black, biker jacket, steel-toed boots, etc.) I consciously project body language that says "I'm not a victim, don't ***** with me" when I'm out on foot at night in a strange city.

As it has happened, when my car has broken down in the past, strangers stopped and helped me out. In rural towns, the police don't patrol the outlying areas very often, so you could wait for hours for help. Although I was nervous about strange guys at night, when I wasn't willing to go with them to get help, they went and got help for me.

Kind of. Actually, she ranted at him for a short bit. I agree with you, btw. He moved so fast, I didn't realize till he was halfway there. Frankly, I kind of freaked, which caused a fair bit of tension upon his return. He didn't "get" why(!) His perspective was that he had to act. I conceded it was a very noble impulse, but given the situation, very dangerous. Interestingly enough, we got a note in our mailbox the next day. It was so sweet, I almost cried. I was so worried that we had made enemies.
Oh, I very much do this too! While paying close attention to surroundings. Not in a freaked out way. The alertness heightens my sense of confidence. I also "think smart" about my positioning, casually avoiding potentially problematic areas like recessed doorways. And use a lengthened confident stride, like I know where I'm going (which hopefully, I do! ) and belong there (ie. like a local).

Alertness to these details can really pay off. One time, I was in a city in another country, at night, with my dad and his wife. I was not in favor of strolling around looking for a restaurant. The location was clearly wrong to me. They walked along, talking w/o thinking about it. This troubled me greatly. Older couple, american accent... hello! Way too easy a mark. I saw a guy, got a strong sense of trouble, and said quietly and firmly, "We are returning to the car. NOW." It wasn't a request. They obeyed, w/o understanding, thinking maybe they should just rearrange some stuff in the car (???!!!) There was someone who'd marked them, and I casually noted his locations as we moved. They still did not realize, and I did not want to take time to explain. We got to the car. "Get in. NOW." They didn't understand fully till we had gone elsewhere, and I'd spelled out exactly what happened and drew a map even. The only time they even saw this guy was right as we were getting in the car. Upon recalling his face, location and body language, they finally realized just how close they'd come to serious trouble. It all came down to being alert to details.

I've never had a problem in small towns or rural areas, in the US or other countries. I've had the same experience with people I didn't accept rides from as you did--they sent or brought help back.
I'm not saying no people are trustworthy, just saying plan to depend on your own devices if in danger. Trusting fills the heart with warm feelings. Trusting as your only line of defense can cost your life.