Do you feel safe living in Calgary?

[theikon]

Racism, stabbings etc.

Do you still feel safe here?

[Wookie]

Originally posted by theikon@Sep 4 2004, 07:52 AM
Racism, stabbings etc.

Do you still feel safe here?

Yes!

I'm more worried, or should I say, the only thing I see as a possible injury/death situation is a car accident.

[Daradon]

Sure do. One of the safest cities in Canada AND the world. And even though it's been proven by stats you don't need to tell me that, I can feel it when I walk down the street. Sure, crap happenes sometimes, even to me, but I don't ever leave home feeling like something will happen or I have to be extra careful for something.

[Ozymandias]

I think you're generally fine if you're not involved with gangs, drugs, or any other violence-breeding activities of the like. Most homicides appear to be the work of past relationships gone sour, bad drug deals, and general animosity between two people.

It's important to know street-smarts here (as in any urban environment), but I'd say Calgary is still one of the best cities to live in. Our urban crawl is miniscule compared to that of larger cities.

[Cowperson]

Are you any more likely to have something happen to you in Calgary than say, 15 years ago when the population was one-third less than it is today?

The more people there are, the more incidents there will be . . . . but that doesn't mean the probability of something happening has increased.

If I'm not mistaken, New York City is now one of the safest, if not the safest, large cities in the USA. Quite a contrast from 15 and 20 years ago when it was quite the opposite, a decaying and festering rat hole.

But . . . . you read about murder and mayhem in New York all the time. Its just that the probability factor has diminished significantly.

As a side note, even though we're isolated and theoretically vulnerable at our home in the country, Mrs. Cowperson told me a few years ago she feels a lot safer than she did in Calgary.

Cowperson

[Ozymandias]

Originally posted by Cowperson@Sep 4 2004, 08:33 AM
Are you any more likely to have something happen to you in Calgary than say, 15 years ago when the population was one-third less than it is today?

The more people there are, the more incidents there will be . . . . but that doesn't mean the probability of something happening has increased.

If I'm not mistaken, New York City is now one of the safest, if not the safest, large cities in the USA. Quite a contrast from 15 and 20 years ago when it was quite the opposite, a decaying and festering rat hole.

But . . . . you read about murder and mayhem in New York all the time. Its just that the probability factor has diminished significantly.

Cow....Might this be the result of increased security efforts in Manhattan since 9/11? I mean, I've heard first-hand stories from friends as well as in media sources that compared to 4 or 5 years ago, New York seems like it's under a constant siege of federal agents, military personnel and police forces, and that's not mentioning all the security precautions probably installed now with video cameras and metal detectors.

What's your opinion on the matter?

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

The question is how many people are just walking along the street and get stabbed or murdered. I would hesitate a guess and say very few, actually the only one I can really remember is the Subway clerk (I am unsure of her name so I won't even try) who was killed for $50 or something stupid like that (may she rest in peace by the way). Often times murders are the result of drug deals, gangs, and other assorted criminal activities or domestic disputes. Let's not kid ourselves Calgary is a very safe city for the average Calgarian.

[Cowperson]

Originally posted by Ozymandias+Sep 4 2004, 03:43 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Ozymandias @ Sep 4 2004, 03:43 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Cowperson@Sep 4 2004, 08:33 AM
Are you any more likely to have something happen to you in Calgary than say, 15 years ago when the population was one-third less than it is today?

The more people there are, the more incidents there will be . . . . but that doesn't mean the probability of something happening has increased.

If I'm not mistaken, New York City is now one of the safest, if not the safest, large cities in the USA. Quite a contrast from 15 and 20 years ago when it was quite the opposite, a decaying and festering rat hole.

But . . . . you read about murder and mayhem in New York all the time. Its just that the probability factor has diminished significantly.

Cow....Might this be the result of increased security efforts in Manhattan since 9/11? I mean, I've heard first-hand stories from friends as well as in media sources that compared to 4 or 5 years ago, New York seems like it's under a constant siege of federal agents, military personnel and police forces, and that's not mentioning all the security precautions probably installed now with video cameras and metal detectors.

What's your opinion on the matter? [/b][/quote]
No. We're talking about a trend in New York through the last 15 years, not just lately. I would say many credit Rudy Guliani as the starting point when he promised to put cops back on the streets and out of their patrol cars when he was first elected.

And demographics change. And the economics of the city changed as well I think.

Central Park used to be a run down, crime ridden dump but on my visit there last year appeared safe, busy and towards nightfall, cops hovered over every entrance and exit.

Articles on the matter:

http://www.nycvisit.com/content/index.cfm?pagePkey=1091

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1881122.stm

Last year there were 101 murders in Manhattan, excluding the 2,830 people recorded as killed in the 11 September attack on the World Trade Center.

By comparison, there were 645 murders in 1975.

Crime in New York is at its lowest level since 1968.

Cowperson

[Crazy Flamer]

I feel quite safe in this city. The violence here has a lot to do with gangs and drugs. A lot of it can also be attributed to nighclub violence, where Im sure alcohol can sometimes be an accelorator to violetn behavior.

When I walk down the street in my neighborhood in the dark, I feel safe. Never do I look behind me out of fright.

[Hockey_Rules_22]

I don't live in Calgary, but I feel safe were I am.

[Regulator75]

I feel safe, but then again it's which area you live or frequent. If you are down on the beltline (example) getting cash from an ATM at 2:30 AM everyday, I bet something would happen. As for going to the ATM in Tuscany, I'd doubt the same thing would happen. Just my thoughts.

[peter12]

I have been to about 15 or so large metropolitan cities like Dublin, London, Prague, Vancouver etc... Calgary is by far the safest city. In European cities you have to avoid large crowds, alleyways, Gypsies (because they beat the sh*t out of you if you don't give them money).

Calgary has fairly safe streets, exluding the beltline and such.

[Reaper]

I feel relatively safe but I would attribute this to three factors:

1) I'm 6'3" and 285 lbs.
2) I am very street smart.
3) I don't have a vagina.

Most people don't want to mess with me based purely on my appearance. I'm a big guy with buzzed hair and a goatee. I give a really good death stare that I've been told has the ability to make the timid wet their pants.

I go to many parts of the city on a regular basis. I take the C train a lot and have no issues with getting off downtown (even by the Mac's at 7th and 8th). I try to use my street smarts all the time. When I'm waiting for the train I am conscious of my surroundings and I put my back towards areas where attacks are unlikely i.e. back towards the wall or a corner. I am constantly surveying the area and make attempts to show a calm appearance.

If I was a woman there's no way I would feel at ease going everywhere I do. The depraved of our society simply want the one thing that only women posess. I wish it weren't the case but unfortunately, it is.

[Regulator75]

Originally posted by peter12@Sep 4 2004, 02:13 PM
I have been to about 15 or so large metropolitan cities like Dublin, London, Prague, Vancouver etc... Calgary is by far the safest city. In European cities you have to avoid large crowds, alleyways, Gypsies (because they beat the sh*t out of you if you don't give them money).

Calgary has fairly safe streets, exluding the beltline and such.

Don't forget about those swarming packs/gangs of children in South America that attack you like little rats in the middle of the day on a busy street. Ripping your pockets, knocking you down and being left with nothing but your underwear. Have any of you seen these attacks on tourists? Man they are brutal.

I LOVE CANADA!

[jam26]

I feel 100% safe and I live in the Beltline. I do worry about the amount of impaired driving that goes on around here, but not violent criminal activity.

[Skyceman]

I've lived in every part of Calgary now and I also believe its a combination of the area you reside in as well as the type of things you are involved in that determines the safeness feeling. To answer your question, yes I do feel safe living in Calgary. I've been all over the states and most of Western Canada and yes I do feel safest here by a long shot.

As my sensei always used to say "If a man doesn't want to slip, he shouldn't walk in slippery places". Simple saying but yet holds alot of wisdom. If you wish to avoid trouble, avoid places that have it.

[Regulator75]

Originally posted by jam26@Sep 4 2004, 02:38 PM
I feel 100% safe and I live in the Beltline. I do worry about the amount of impaired driving that goes on around here, but not violent criminal activity.

Don't forget all the naked freaks exposing themselves down there!

Nahh man, I am not knocking the beltline. It was just an example, could of used any number of higher crime areas.

[peter12]

Originally posted by Regulator75+Sep 4 2004, 02:41 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Regulator75 @ Sep 4 2004, 02:41 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-jam26@Sep 4 2004, 02:38 PM
I feel 100% safe and I live in the Beltline. I do worry about the amount of impaired driving that goes on around here, but not violent criminal activity.

Don't forget all the naked freaks exposing themselves down there!

Nahh man, I am not knocking the beltline. It was just an example, could of used any number of higher crime areas. [/b][/quote]
I remember all the dope deals outside my window or people peeing on my window.
Ahh the beltline....

Reaper has got it though, if you are a women the risk of you being harassed or anything else goes up by about 10000x.

[MarchHare]

To answer the topic: yes, I feel very safe in Calgary, living downtown.

Slightly off-topic, but related: does anyone know what was going on at the 8th and 7th Macs yesterday afternoon? I was riding the train home from work, and 8th Street station was closed, there were officers and police cars everywhere, the parking lot for the Macs was blocked off with police tape, and I saw a few television cameras. Did anyone hear about what happened?

[Ozymandias]

Originally posted by MarchHare@Sep 4 2004, 02:33 PM
To answer the topic: yes, I feel very safe in Calgary, living downtown.

Slightly off-topic, but related: does anyone know what was going on at the 8th and 7th Macs yesterday afternoon? I was riding the train home from work, and 8th Street station was closed, there were officers and police cars everywhere, the parking lot for the Macs was blocked off with police tape, and I saw a few television cameras. Did anyone hear about what happened?

I saw the whole thing from my office. Read my thread.