While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping...
July 6, 2013 6:12 PM Subscribe
I need to drive from Prospect Heights to JFK around 5 AM on a weekday. I'm not a very confident highway driver anyway, and Google Maps suggests that the most logical route is to take Atlantic Ave all the way east to South Conduit, then straight down to the airport. I've done a variation on this route before and it makes sense and I feel comfortable with it. Except...
I'm not sure if I feel safe driving alone on Atlantic Ave through Bed-Stuy/East New York at 5 AM. I'm a petite woman in my 20s and I'll be driving a Zipcar. When my mom was my age she was once driving in the early morning and, while stopped at a red light, a group of men surrounded her car and tried to get in (luckily all the doors were locked and traffic was light, so she took a chance and sped away). I know this kind of thing is not at all common but it always comes to mind when I need to drive through a neighborhood I'm uncomfortable with, especially if I'm alone and especially if it's a more desolate time of day.
So hivemind and drivers of the outer boroughs: am I being silly? I prefer the Atlantic Ave route over, say, taking the BQE/Van Wyck because it's more direct and easier to drive, but I'm willing to switch to the highway if the "creepy factor" wins out. Fully expecting and totally OK with being told I'm overly cautious.
(Bonus: if I'm overlooking an even better route to the airport, especially one you have experience with at 5 AM, I'm all ears!)
I'm not sure if I feel safe driving alone on Atlantic Ave through Bed-Stuy/East New York at 5 AM. I'm a petite woman in my 20s and I'll be driving a Zipcar. When my mom was my age she was once driving in the early morning and, while stopped at a red light, a group of men surrounded her car and tried to get in (luckily all the doors were locked and traffic was light, so she took a chance and sped away). I know this kind of thing is not at all common but it always comes to mind when I need to drive through a neighborhood I'm uncomfortable with, especially if I'm alone and especially if it's a more desolate time of day.
So hivemind and drivers of the outer boroughs: am I being silly? I prefer the Atlantic Ave route over, say, taking the BQE/Van Wyck because it's more direct and easier to drive, but I'm willing to switch to the highway if the "creepy factor" wins out. Fully expecting and totally OK with being told I'm overly cautious.
(Bonus: if I'm overlooking an even better route to the airport, especially one you have experience with at 5 AM, I'm all ears!)
Best answer: Mid-30's lady here. I've traveled this route many times at the time you are planning. It's totally fine. I wouldn't consider it an unsafe route at all.
Atlantic at that time has very light traffic, and it's usually a very quick trip to the airport. There are also a good handful of gypsy cabs on that route at that hour, taking people to the airport. I've driven down Eastern Parkway but I prefer the Atlantic Ave route.
posted by carmenghia at 6:42 PM on July 6, 2013
Atlantic at that time has very light traffic, and it's usually a very quick trip to the airport. There are also a good handful of gypsy cabs on that route at that hour, taking people to the airport. I've driven down Eastern Parkway but I prefer the Atlantic Ave route.
posted by carmenghia at 6:42 PM on July 6, 2013
Best answer: That route is just fine, and it's starting to get light out around 4:30am these days, too. The only other way I go is Eastern Parkway to Atlantic because it's more scenic, but the lights aren't as well-timed. No other route makes much sense.
posted by mgar at 7:05 PM on July 6, 2013
posted by mgar at 7:05 PM on July 6, 2013
(Bonus: if I'm overlooking an even better route to the airport, especially one you have experience with at 5 AM, I'm all ears!)
Car service car service car service. You can call and arrange for them to pick you up whenever you want. I did this once for a 3am flight.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:14 PM on July 6, 2013
Car service car service car service. You can call and arrange for them to pick you up whenever you want. I did this once for a 3am flight.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:14 PM on July 6, 2013
Best answer: I'm a 5'6" blonde lady with a super yuppie Subaru. I worked in East New York doing home care physical therapy for almost a year, working in housing projects from early in the morning until about sunset most of the time. My primary area that I worked was the exact area you are concerned about driving through. Nobody ever so much as said boo to me. I've been harassed more on the upper east side more than I ever was in East New York. Anecdata, but I would say you're gonna be fine.
posted by jennyjenny at 8:51 PM on July 6, 2013
posted by jennyjenny at 8:51 PM on July 6, 2013
Response by poster: Excellent, thanks all for the reassurance!
showbiz_liz, I am all about car service, but on this occasion I need to drive myself, for reasons.
posted by telegraph at 8:55 PM on July 6, 2013
showbiz_liz, I am all about car service, but on this occasion I need to drive myself, for reasons.
posted by telegraph at 8:55 PM on July 6, 2013
I sometimes prefer eastern parkway to Atlantic, but I imagine at that time of night it doesn't matter or Atlantic would be faster.
posted by Phredward at 7:37 AM on July 7, 2013
posted by Phredward at 7:37 AM on July 7, 2013
That is the exact route my car service used to take me to JFK for the trip I am currently on. And at about the same time.
Atlantic is a pretty main "thoroughfare," so there wouldn't be any way for a pedestrian to easily get to your car while it was at a light; and at that time of the morning it's pretty quiet. Then North Conduit looks more like "a thruway through the woods around a development", so that's also fine as well.
It's also a pretty quick drive. You'll be fine.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:46 AM on July 7, 2013
Atlantic is a pretty main "thoroughfare," so there wouldn't be any way for a pedestrian to easily get to your car while it was at a light; and at that time of the morning it's pretty quiet. Then North Conduit looks more like "a thruway through the woods around a development", so that's also fine as well.
It's also a pretty quick drive. You'll be fine.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:46 AM on July 7, 2013
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take your direct route, windows up, doors locked, aware, and if someone comes up to your vehicle at a light and you get a bad feeling, either blow the light and drive, or lay on the horn. it should be a quick trip unless there is work being done or exceptional traffic for some reason.
posted by zdravo at 6:24 PM on July 6, 2013