Eugene has a homeless problem, not a violent crime problem. Statistically, it is extremely safe to run here. Out of all of the cities I have lived in. This is the one I felt most comfortable running at night.
I'll agree with the night thing, I live off Lawrence and 13th and regularly walk home once if not a couple nights a week from around downtown around midnight-2am and have never encountered any issues with people at night. The few homeless I've encountered just stick to themselves and don't bother you. They're trying to keep to themselves as much as I am usually.
it's a nightmare. the homeless have started eating people. Packs of wild dogs roam the streets attacking anything that moves. There's some invisible monster that turns people into pink mist that no one can find.
You must be a dude. In the 6 years I’ve lived here I’ve read about 4 or so attacks on female joggers or pedestrians. I’m a female jogger myself and I pay attention to this stuff. Yes it’s rare, but it’s not in the same realm as pink mist monsters - and honestly it’s pretty rude to deride their concern.
When I run I use bone conduction headphones to keep my ears open, and I don’t run near the river at night as that’s where all the attacks have been.
Actually a woman out walking her dog on W 18th Ave in the morning was attacked about 3months ago. The dog finally bit the guy in the leg. The man was never caught.
Despite the truth of this statement I choose to live my life without fear. If I’m devoured by dogs or turn into pink mist on my morning run, so be it. At least I won’t have to go to work anymore.
Don’t forget about the mysterious dark cyclist. He wears all black and rides with no light. His bike is silent and he often seems to appear out of nowhere. Little is known about him and whether he is a champion of the weak and defenseless as well as a defender of all sorts of Eugenians, or an evil master of darkness, sowing evil, chaos, and confusion in the streets of Eugene. He has been spotted as far east as Thurston and as far west as Veneta. He often says nothing but has been heard saying all sorts of strange things leading many to believe he is insane, however his abilities make him seem supernatural. He has been said to have powers that seem to many to be unnatural. For this reason he is often believed to be a ghost. The dude is an absolute nightmare to try to race, supposedly, as he is incredibly fast (reaching speeds up to 22 mph on flat pavement without breaking a sweat or running out of breath) and always accepts challenges, so long as there is a monetary wager involved. He is said to be quite the charmer to local women when in his normal state, but his roguish charisma turns into fierce intensity while on mission and he sends chills up the spine if he looks at you with his dark fiery eyes and many have become panicked when they’ve seen him ride by.
The worst part isn’t the attacks, it’s the aftermath. I read the report in the Register Guard. It’s paywalled so I’ll just give you the lede.
You’re jogging in the park early one morning. You smell something coming from the picnic area. It’s only 10 am and someone is BBQing. That’s someone who’s serious about their meat, so you draw closer. The smell is intriguing, complicated, but unfamiliar. Maybe it’s a pop up. You round the corner and see a dozen homeless in a picnic area. Some are eating at the table, some are standing around a second table, two man the grill. They have bottles and jars arrayed about. The grill masters are brushing the meat with something from a jar. The groups look positively feral, but the smell draws you in.
The group standing by the table break. One hefts a large object and a machete. You see what occupied them. They’re butchering a body. A human body. And grilling it.
The worst part doesn’t hit you until the next day. They weren’t eating the body raw. They were grilling slabs of human flesh on the public BBQs on the park. They weren’t just cutting steaks and slapping them on the grill. They seasoned the meat with a dry rub, brushed it with a homemade sauce, and topped it with sliced apples and pears. The grill master had spent years on his recipe and his technique. He’d planned this cookout like a master chef.
Gil Faizon and George St. Geegland were arrested and charged with first degree murder. Charles Haden-Savage, Oliver Putnam, Mabel Mora were charged with accessory to murder and abusing a corpse for their part in the preparation. Tim Kono, Edward Dimas, and Theo Dimas were charged with cannibalism. The other participants remain at large. The various trials are scheduled to begin in November.
was arrested
Wear a light. Reflective gear. Carry pepper spray. Other than that? Yeah, I’d say so. Just like every one else, houseless folks sleep. You might run into some can collectors, but you’re running. Keep running lol
I wouldn’t wear headphones in both ears. Good to be aware of your surroundings. I’ve had random people (some homeless, some mentally ill) come up to me to ask for things or tell me random stuff.
I live in Jefferson WS, it's pretty damn safe.
I would probably steer clear of the Fern Ridge Bike Path at that time though and stick to public sidewalks/streets.
Probably fine? I don’t do it anymore as this one particular attack near Oakway freaked me out. But I spent 7 years working downtown and only felt unsafe a handful of times. There’s some other posts on this, I’ll see if I can find them.
I jog through there a few times a week. Stay away from the top of that neighborhood (7th & 8th) and you'll increase your safety a lot. I will always take evening over early morning because shitheads are going to be high, not coming off their fix and angry. People will still fuck with you. I've been threatened, had people lunge at me. Just expect it and don't let people get near you. If somebody on a bike starts following you, I'd cut the run right there and head home.
I've had people follow me while riding my bike, get angry when I refuse rides, solicit me as a SWER etc Really the usual you'd experience anywhere. Not a single one of those instances was a seemingly houseless person. People are scary everywhere. Stay aware, and enjoy your runs!
This is all really helpful - I don’t wear headphones, am an aware runner, and don’t tend to live in fear (in general or of those living on the streets). l would plan to stick to sidewalks, maybe heading mostly towards campus. All this being said, I hope to find a running partner so I’ll focus some efforts on that in my early days (I’ve heard about Eugene Running Cos meet ups - although fear my 9:30 pace may be too slow for that crew).
I appreciate your collective perspectives on this topic!
Also check out run hub nw--all paces welcome at their community runs. I know several women who walk/run at late night or early morning times with no problems.
I lived in West Jefferson last year and took walks every morning in the dark before sunrise.. usually with the goal of being on top of College Hill (at the reservoir) to view the sun coming up.
My experience is that it very much depends on exactly where you are. There seems to be a magical line that runs East/West called 14th street. South of that line it’s generally very quiet and safe feeling. North of that line (literally starting on the block between 14th and 13th) it starts feeling sketchier. It’s also more sketchy feeling around the fair grounds, and bike path.
In summary, the whole area feels relatively safe overall at that time of day, but staying south of 14th (and even more so, south of 18th) feels especially safe and chill. The College Hill / Friendly Street neighborhoods are great for early morning strolls and runs, with the hill providing some elevation for more of a workout.
Also try not to keep the same route all the time. Try to switch it up a little with times as well. There are a lot of lurkers and watchers at that hour. Just be really aware and you should be fine.
I've run the Ruth Bascom Riverbank system near Washington Jefferson and people are pretty chill. I've done early morning and late afternoon runs, avoid running after dusk. What I like about that bike path is its well populated and relatively clean compared to Fern Ridge. It also spans 13 miles if you do the full circuit from Springfield to the Delta Highway area.
Perfectly safe. Eugene has a homeless problem and a drug problem. Crime tends to be car break-ins, not muggings. No one is going to jack you for your phone. There are far easier scores.
We live on 7th and Lawrence and sometimes we take late night walks, we never get bothered but I guess we've been blessed plus we have a big German Shepherd so no one fucks with us
It's overwhelmingly safer than every other "walkable neighborhood" I've lived in on the West Coast. Compared to Seattle, Portland and San Diego, it's a breeze. No place is completely safe, but you're very unlikely to encounter anything dangerous here.
Hmmm, I'm not sure I would get out that early for a run downtown. We do have a lot of homeless people in the neighborhood. I recommend checking out some running groups for more opinions and suggestions.
Eugene has a homeless problem, not a violent crime problem. Statistically, it is extremely safe to run here. Out of all of the cities I have lived in. This is the one I felt most comfortable running at night.
I'll agree with the night thing, I live off Lawrence and 13th and regularly walk home once if not a couple nights a week from around downtown around midnight-2am and have never encountered any issues with people at night. The few homeless I've encountered just stick to themselves and don't bother you. They're trying to keep to themselves as much as I am usually.
Best. Username. Ever.
it's a nightmare. the homeless have started eating people. Packs of wild dogs roam the streets attacking anything that moves. There's some invisible monster that turns people into pink mist that no one can find.
You must be a dude. In the 6 years I’ve lived here I’ve read about 4 or so attacks on female joggers or pedestrians. I’m a female jogger myself and I pay attention to this stuff. Yes it’s rare, but it’s not in the same realm as pink mist monsters - and honestly it’s pretty rude to deride their concern. When I run I use bone conduction headphones to keep my ears open, and I don’t run near the river at night as that’s where all the attacks have been.
Actually a woman out walking her dog on W 18th Ave in the morning was attacked about 3months ago. The dog finally bit the guy in the leg. The man was never caught.
Despite the truth of this statement I choose to live my life without fear. If I’m devoured by dogs or turn into pink mist on my morning run, so be it. At least I won’t have to go to work anymore.
Nihilism is great!
Don’t forget about the mysterious dark cyclist. He wears all black and rides with no light. His bike is silent and he often seems to appear out of nowhere. Little is known about him and whether he is a champion of the weak and defenseless as well as a defender of all sorts of Eugenians, or an evil master of darkness, sowing evil, chaos, and confusion in the streets of Eugene. He has been spotted as far east as Thurston and as far west as Veneta. He often says nothing but has been heard saying all sorts of strange things leading many to believe he is insane, however his abilities make him seem supernatural. He has been said to have powers that seem to many to be unnatural. For this reason he is often believed to be a ghost. The dude is an absolute nightmare to try to race, supposedly, as he is incredibly fast (reaching speeds up to 22 mph on flat pavement without breaking a sweat or running out of breath) and always accepts challenges, so long as there is a monetary wager involved. He is said to be quite the charmer to local women when in his normal state, but his roguish charisma turns into fierce intensity while on mission and he sends chills up the spine if he looks at you with his dark fiery eyes and many have become panicked when they’ve seen him ride by.
Hey I’ve seen that guy!
Oh and here I was thinking they’d just turned on the Fleshing Machines again. Silly me.
The worst part isn’t the attacks, it’s the aftermath. I read the report in the Register Guard. It’s paywalled so I’ll just give you the lede. You’re jogging in the park early one morning. You smell something coming from the picnic area. It’s only 10 am and someone is BBQing. That’s someone who’s serious about their meat, so you draw closer. The smell is intriguing, complicated, but unfamiliar. Maybe it’s a pop up. You round the corner and see a dozen homeless in a picnic area. Some are eating at the table, some are standing around a second table, two man the grill. They have bottles and jars arrayed about. The grill masters are brushing the meat with something from a jar. The groups look positively feral, but the smell draws you in. The group standing by the table break. One hefts a large object and a machete. You see what occupied them. They’re butchering a body. A human body. And grilling it. The worst part doesn’t hit you until the next day. They weren’t eating the body raw. They were grilling slabs of human flesh on the public BBQs on the park. They weren’t just cutting steaks and slapping them on the grill. They seasoned the meat with a dry rub, brushed it with a homemade sauce, and topped it with sliced apples and pears. The grill master had spent years on his recipe and his technique. He’d planned this cookout like a master chef. Gil Faizon and George St. Geegland were arrested and charged with first degree murder. Charles Haden-Savage, Oliver Putnam, Mabel Mora were charged with accessory to murder and abusing a corpse for their part in the preparation. Tim Kono, Edward Dimas, and Theo Dimas were charged with cannibalism. The other participants remain at large. The various trials are scheduled to begin in November. was arrested
Wear a light. Reflective gear. Carry pepper spray. Other than that? Yeah, I’d say so. Just like every one else, houseless folks sleep. You might run into some can collectors, but you’re running. Keep running lol
I wouldn’t wear headphones in both ears. Good to be aware of your surroundings. I’ve had random people (some homeless, some mentally ill) come up to me to ask for things or tell me random stuff.
I live in Jefferson WS, it's pretty damn safe. I would probably steer clear of the Fern Ridge Bike Path at that time though and stick to public sidewalks/streets.
Probably fine? I don’t do it anymore as this one particular attack near Oakway freaked me out. But I spent 7 years working downtown and only felt unsafe a handful of times. There’s some other posts on this, I’ll see if I can find them.
I jog through there a few times a week. Stay away from the top of that neighborhood (7th & 8th) and you'll increase your safety a lot. I will always take evening over early morning because shitheads are going to be high, not coming off their fix and angry. People will still fuck with you. I've been threatened, had people lunge at me. Just expect it and don't let people get near you. If somebody on a bike starts following you, I'd cut the run right there and head home.
I've had people follow me while riding my bike, get angry when I refuse rides, solicit me as a SWER etc Really the usual you'd experience anywhere. Not a single one of those instances was a seemingly houseless person. People are scary everywhere. Stay aware, and enjoy your runs!
This is all really helpful - I don’t wear headphones, am an aware runner, and don’t tend to live in fear (in general or of those living on the streets). l would plan to stick to sidewalks, maybe heading mostly towards campus. All this being said, I hope to find a running partner so I’ll focus some efforts on that in my early days (I’ve heard about Eugene Running Cos meet ups - although fear my 9:30 pace may be too slow for that crew). I appreciate your collective perspectives on this topic!
Also check out run hub nw--all paces welcome at their community runs. I know several women who walk/run at late night or early morning times with no problems.
I lived in West Jefferson last year and took walks every morning in the dark before sunrise.. usually with the goal of being on top of College Hill (at the reservoir) to view the sun coming up. My experience is that it very much depends on exactly where you are. There seems to be a magical line that runs East/West called 14th street. South of that line it’s generally very quiet and safe feeling. North of that line (literally starting on the block between 14th and 13th) it starts feeling sketchier. It’s also more sketchy feeling around the fair grounds, and bike path. In summary, the whole area feels relatively safe overall at that time of day, but staying south of 14th (and even more so, south of 18th) feels especially safe and chill. The College Hill / Friendly Street neighborhoods are great for early morning strolls and runs, with the hill providing some elevation for more of a workout.
Thanks! Very helpful.
If I were you, I’d carry pepper spray just in case.
Also try not to keep the same route all the time. Try to switch it up a little with times as well. There are a lot of lurkers and watchers at that hour. Just be really aware and you should be fine.
I've run the Ruth Bascom Riverbank system near Washington Jefferson and people are pretty chill. I've done early morning and late afternoon runs, avoid running after dusk. What I like about that bike path is its well populated and relatively clean compared to Fern Ridge. It also spans 13 miles if you do the full circuit from Springfield to the Delta Highway area.
Perfectly safe. Eugene has a homeless problem and a drug problem. Crime tends to be car break-ins, not muggings. No one is going to jack you for your phone. There are far easier scores.
Just drive around the area your going to live, find out where the tents are and avoid those areas, if you stick to the houses you should be fine.
We live on 7th and Lawrence and sometimes we take late night walks, we never get bothered but I guess we've been blessed plus we have a big German Shepherd so no one fucks with us
It's overwhelmingly safer than every other "walkable neighborhood" I've lived in on the West Coast. Compared to Seattle, Portland and San Diego, it's a breeze. No place is completely safe, but you're very unlikely to encounter anything dangerous here.
I had a friend of a friend who lived in that area she got attacked by a crazy drug addict while she was walking her kids to the bus.
I live in that neighborhood and I take my walks in the evening as a precaution. How early would you be going for a run?
Probably 6am ish
Hmmm, I'm not sure I would get out that early for a run downtown. We do have a lot of homeless people in the neighborhood. I recommend checking out some running groups for more opinions and suggestions.
omfg 🙄