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Gold's Guide to Safe City Travel overflows with strategies and practical advice
for city travel. An essential study for residents, commuters, shoppers, students,
sightseers, event goers, and anyone likely to visit a city, this book includes
chapters on pre-trip planning, traveling with children, driving, parking, using mass
transit, and self-preservation. Twelve chapters, twelve real-life stories, an index,
and over three hundred outlined tips help to ensure that urban day-trippers will
"know before they go."
Gold’s Guide to Safe City Travel
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Booklocker.com
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Gold’s Guide
To
SAFE CITY TRAVEL
Smart Strategies for the Urban Day-Tripper
Roderick D. Johnston

Copyright © 2012 Roderick D. Johnston
ISBN 978-0-9719872-2-7
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the
prior written permission of the author.
Published by Trans Mountain Publishing
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper.
Trans Mountain Group
2012
First Edition
Trans Mountain Group
P.O. Box 816
Burnsville, NC 28714

Chapter 1: Travel Preparations
Traveling to a city for the first time can usually fulfill a vision such as
clarifying an image seen long ago on a postage stamp, or as imagined
from reading a novel, or as remembered from a scene in a movie.
Seeing a city for the first time allows us to understand more about that
city than thousands of words could ever portray.
Some of the finest restaurants are located in cities. Who can say
enough about riding eighty floors up in an elevator to a building-top
observatory to take in the view or sitting through nine innings of
Major League baseball all while watching the city lights twinkle in the
background? In a city, we can hear four movements of Handel, enjoy
three floors of a museum, or rest while watching ducks float on a
pond. In terms of people, cities exude the best and the worst of
humanity. There we can see who we have been, who we are today, and
who we have to be tomorrow.
Of course, the trick is knowing when and where to go in any city to
enjoy its benefits. That may mean researching months in advance
things like discount coupons, event tickets sales, days and hours of
popular attractions, or reservations at a certain restaurant. In short,
great city experiences require preparation. So then how do you
prepare? First, study road maps and get familiar with that city. Learn
how buildings are laid out block to block. Get a feel for where the
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Gold’s Guide to SAFE CITY TRAVEL
bridges and tunnels are in relation to downtown. Second, where is
your destination relative to all of this? Are you traveling downtown to
the heart of the city or are you tripping to a suburban location? Third,
how many ways can you drive to where you want to go? What is the
most direct route? Being prepared entails knowing beforehand how-to
comprehend transit schedules, identify landmarks such as parks and
attractions, and understand the character of the area you will be
visiting. If professional truckers, bus drivers, and cabbies have to
prepare for city travel, shouldn’t you?
Preparation requires facing your weaknesses. Afterall, not everyone
can decipher a subway map, plan their route around one-way streets,
or calculate the time it will take to reach a destination. For that matter,
not everyone has a driver’s license. So, begin by asking yourself
“How will I get into the city?” Will you be driving, bicycling, using
mass transit, or walking into the city? Thinking about these issues will
lead to thoughts about where to park, how to link with buses and
trains, and how to avoid rush-hour traffic. Guarantee a successful day
in the city by planning and scheduling your trip in advance. Take the
time to get informed.
Here are some tips to help you prepare for city travel:
1. Study and understand an area before exploring it day or night.
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Smart Strategies for the Urban Day-Tripper
2. Carry one or more street maps of the city that you are
traveling to.
3. For the cost-conscious, smaller restaurants tend to be more
economical.
4. If schedule matters, always allow extra time when traveling to
or within a city.
5. A state ID card can come in handy in lieu of using your
driver’s license for identification.
6. Find out where the most dangerous areas lie within a city.
What are the names of these places?
7. Ensure that your cell phone is always easy to access. Carry a
backup and fully charged cell phone battery.
8. To charge phones, cameras, laptops, and other rechargeable
devices in one location, carry a lightweight power strip.
9. For those constantly on the road, consider protecting your
identity through use of a credit monitoring service.
10. When possible, buy event tickets over the web. It is less
cumbersome, you may get a choice of seats, and you are
guaranteed admission.
11. If you are running late, call and alert whoever is waiting for
you that you are running behind schedule. Stay in touch until
you arrive.
12. Beyond friends, family, and close associates, discusses your
travel plans with nobody. Keep this information off social
networking sites.
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Gold’s Guide to SAFE CITY TRAVEL
13. Check for deals. Some attractions offer discount pricing and
cheaper multi-day admission when you purchase tickets over
the Internet.
14. Remember that a street side fast food restaurant will probably
be cheaper than the same (or a competing) restaurant located
in a museum or at an attraction.
15. On a map, note where roads, mass transit lines, and stations
merge. How do they link? Study this network to better
understand how you can reach your destination.
16. Store “In Case of Emergency” (ICE) numbers and 911 into
your cell phone speed dial registry. (See (ICE) in chapter 12.)
Show your children how to find and dial 911.
17. Carry a recent group picture of everyone in your party in case
someone gets lost. The odds of finding a lost person increase
when people can reference a recent photo.
18. If you must get online while traveling use caution at Internet
cafes! Identity thieves love these places. You are better off at
city buildings, upscale hotels, and school sites.
19. Many city establishments honor a wide array of discounts.
Take advantage of club, association, or credit card discounts
available to you. Check your benefits before leaving home.
20. Before traveling to a city, check with their Chamber of
Commerce. Some Chambers offer special promotions and
package deals that bundle attractions, restaurants, and transit
tickets at very attractive rates.
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Smart Strategies for the Urban Day-Tripper
21. Plan or GPS your route in and out of the city and stick to it.
With a colored marker, highlight this route on your road map.
Always let someone know where you are going and supply
them with a duplicate color-coded map.
22. Join a motorist or automobile club. These organizations
provide a wealth of travel resources and can be counted on
should you need towing, road assistance, or on-the-spot
advice over the phone. Consider them a 24-hour friend.
23. Write down, and number in order, the places you plan to
visit. Plan your route as efficiently as possible. One way to
do this is to travel in a circuitous fashion. Walk minimal
distances to see a maximum number of attractions. Think
straight lines.
24. If you will be meeting somebody that you do not know, get a
picture and some personal information about this person
beforehand. Take a copy of this information with you but
leave the originals with somebody who will be waiting for
you at home.
25. Study the daily schedules of attractions that you plan on
visiting. Museums, historic structures, and popular
destinations usually operate at various times according to
season and may vary their hours daily. On some days, they
may not be open or they may close early.
26. Before leaving home, make a copy of everything in your
wallet or purse and store it in a safe place. Copy both sides of
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Gold’s Guide to SAFE CITY TRAVEL
licenses, credit cards, phone number lists, medical cards and
anything else worth having just in case you were to lose an
original copy while traveling.
27. Street maps do not always indicate obstacles impassable for
pedestrians such as elevated or below-grade rail lines and
highways, concrete barriers running down the center of
streets, or utility right-of-ways. Check multiple maps before
settling on a route and be prepared to alter your course if
necessary.
28. Before leaving home, make sure somebody knows whom you
are with, where you will be going, and when you plan to
return. Inform them of the type of vehicle you will drive as
well as what you will be wearing. Leave this information in a
note, on your answering service, as a phone message, or with
someone at work.
29. Inform credit and debit card sources of your travel plans to
ensure your cards are not canceled when you use them. Some
companies will freeze your card if they perceive fraudulent
use. This happens when they notice your card being swiped
in a location distant from where you usually use it. (I have
had this happen to me twice in Haiti.)
30. Do you plan to exercise while in the city? If so, always work
out with someone else and stick to routes that are pedestriansafe.
Walking scenic trails and bike paths that traverse
secluded green areas keep you safe from vehicular traffic
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Smart Strategies for the Urban Day-Tripper
however, the foliage and relative remoteness of these areas
can leave you prey to whomever is lurking in the shadows. If
attacked while working out, being physically exhausted can
dull your ability to think clearly or react quickly. It is vital to
reserve energy should you need to run, or think your way out
of trouble, or have to physically battle a thug.
31. Travel light. Only take what you will need. Leave
checkbooks, calculators, redundant credit cards, and other
extraneous forms of identification behind. You want to carry
the essentials such as a driver’s license or state ID card,
photo-identification, motor club card, health insurance cards,
and medication. Since some shops and restaurants only
accept certain credit cards, limit the number and type of
credit cards that you carry. MasterCard and VISA seems
enjoy universal acceptance. I usually carry one of them and
an AMEX card. On your person and where you are staying,
keep a separate photocopy of your credit and personal cards
in case any are lost, or stolen.
32. Use street-block lengths to judge walking distances. Most
cities are laid out in rectangular grid-fashion so knowing the
dimensions of the average block will enable you to quickly
and accurately calculate distances and walking times,
Measure the block distances on a map beforehand. To figure
gross travel distance, multiply the number of blocks you plan
to walk by their length. (Most maps have a scale.) Divide this
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Gold’s Guide to SAFE CITY TRAVEL
number to determine miles or kilometers. When calculating
on the run, avoid the pitfall of forgetting which city block
axis is longer in length; the dimension between major
avenues or the dimension between cross streets.
33. Keep a backup-list of emergency phone numbers in your
pocket should you happen to lose your wallet or purse.
Typical numbers should include:
• Phone card providers.
• Credit card companies.
• Your cellular phone service provider.
• Nearest embassy or Consulate’s office.
• The bank that handles your checking account.
• Road service, AAA, and motorist association numbers.
True Life Story Number 1 – Know Before You Go
On a cold and snowy January day, a friend and I took the train across
Canada from Montreal to Banff. On approaching Calgary, the
conductor informed us that the train would be stopping for an hour. He
suggested we use the time to explore the city. Restless after spending a
sleepless night trying to fold ourselves comfortably into coach seating,
we jumped at the idea. When the train stopped, we scurried up to street
level and toured an icy Calgary. After forty-five minutes, we headed
back to the train only to find bare tracks. The train had already left.
Confused, after speaking with railroad personnel at the station, we
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Smart Strategies for the Urban Day-Tripper
learned that our train had been gone for half an hour. Though nobody
accused him, we learned that this particular conductor had a reputation
for playing tricks on people, like leaving them stranded.
Being that our luggage was still on the train, the railroad arranged to
have it dropped off ahead at the next station in Banff. That was also
our destination. Meanwhile at Calgary, we waited hours for the next
train. We finally caught one and ended up reaching Banff after
midnight. In below-zero cold, we retrieved our luggage from the
frozen platform. Of course, everything by then was closed. Unable to
locate a hotel room, we laid our sleeping bags down in a building
under construction that the contractor was keeping warm with space
heaters. Fortunate to have found a place protected from the cold
Canadian night, we slept well before continuing our journey back to
school in Idaho.
Q@A
Q: You mention planning the purchase of admission tickets. Can’t I
buy tickets once we arrive at the zoo or at a museum?
A: You sure can. Generally, there is no problem purchasing admission
tickets to venues that operate daily. However, you may be out of luck
if you try to purchase tickets for special events scheduled on the day
you arrive. The same holds true for ball games, concerts, special tours,
and the like. If you prefer good seats at an attractive price, plan and
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Gold’s Guide to SAFE CITY TRAVEL
purchase your tickets beforehand. That way you will avoid long lines
and possible disappointment. Call it peace of mind.
Q: How far in advance should I purchase tickets?
A: That depends on the affair. For intense rivalry-type sporting
matches and popular concert entertainment, purchase your tickets as
soon as you can. Keep an eye on what is coming up and when tickets
will be available. Buy them months in advance. Some restaurants also
require reservations. Call the restaurant you would like to visit and
find out if they accept reservations. If they do, make them.
Reservations are free. The key is planning. Also, consider the season.
Holiday and weekend events require more advance planning.
Q: We are going to fly in for a weekend of sightseeing. How should
we plan?
A: When flying, devote plenty of time to arriving back at the airport
early. Plan plenty of time for the unexpected because the unexpected
happens. For this reason, you may not have as much sightseeing time
on the day of your arrival or departure. Unless somebody picks you up
at the airport, you will need to rent a vehicle, hire a taxi, or use mass
transit to reach your destination. The rules and strategies outlined in
this book apply once you leave the airport.
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Smart Strategies for the Urban Day-Tripper
Q: What about preparing with children? You didn’t mention them.
A: Ah, you are right. We have not discussed much on that subject yet.
If you move ahead to Chapter 5, you will find that it is devoted to
traveling with children. In fact, that is the title of the chapter,
Traveling with Children. I think you will find a ton of good
information there. Meanwhile, it is on to Chapter 2 where we will
explain how to make a good impression while strolling city streets.
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Chapter 2: Sidewalk Behavior
It is easy to spot individuals that are comfortable in the city. They
exude a casual, business-as-usual presence. Some may dart and weave
their way through the crowd, trying to make time, while others
casually stroll along, unaffected by the enveloping hustle. Unwavering
hard-core city people walk with their gaze fixed straight ahead, their
eyes locked and motionless — like taillights on a midnight train. They
may glance sideways to check for oncoming traffic but because they
know the terrain, they rarely pay attention to landmarks. In focusing to
get from one place to another, people moving with purpose
demonstrate that they have no time for nonsense. Silently, their actions
tell others to leave them alone. Because confident people are not
absorbed in their immediate travel, many have the mental capacity to
deal with whatever circumstance may come their way. A reservoir of
defense.
However, image only goes so far. It may save somebody from being
targeted for petty street crime but being able to manage precarious
situations only comes with preparation, coaching, experience, the right
tools, and most of all, a fearless demeanor to escape, stare down, beat
back, or break whatever is threatening you. Day-trippers need to learn
what street-savvy individuals already know. A key to avoiding trouble
is perception. You want to be perceived as dangerous prey. You do not
want to be looked at as a “given.” Goons and street thugs want an easy
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Gold’s Guide to SAFE CITY TRAVEL
deal and they dread resistance. They do not want to be tested. It’s too
risky. Things may backfire. Unless they are flat out crazy, common
street criminals – like most predators – prefer easy hits. So, to increase
your odds of surviving in the city, carry yourself appropriately, melt
into the crowd, and appear formidable.
Here are some ways to accomplish this:
34. Travel in groups.
35. Be aware of your surroundings. What is going on around
you?
36. When moving through crowds, follow close behind and in
the wake of others.
37. Avoid walking while chatting on your cell phone. Find a safe
place to sit and talk.
38. Move with purpose. Be confident and always look like you
know where you are going.
39. To help deter hit and run robbers, walk close behind and
block the side where a woman is carrying her pocketbook or
bag.
40. Trust your instincts. When approaching what appears to be
trouble, if your impulse is to cross the street, do it and keep
moving. Don’t look back. Just keep an eye on traffic.
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Smart Strategies for the Urban Day-Tripper
41. In most jurisdictions, jaywalking is illegal. Do you see many
people crossing illegally? Research the city you are traveling
to or ask locals how the police treat jaywalking.
42. When crossing alleys and driveways, give them the same
respect that you would when crossing a busy street. Look for
vehicles entering and leaving before walking in front of them.
43. When traveling solo, stay within sight and shouting distance
of other people. At times, traveling solo may warrant waiting
for or catching up with normal-looking strangers, and then
walking with them as if you are part of their group.
44. Ignore comments passed your way. When passing suspicious
characters, appear as though you are having a bad day.
Crown your confidence with a scowl and clench a fist. Let
others know that you are not worth it. Be somebody that
someone else would rather pass up. Act as if you have
nothing to lose.
45. When walking, be aware of which streets carry one-way
vehicular traffic. When crossing a one-way street, looking
both ways and then pausing in contemplation that the street is
indeed a “one-way” avenue is a dead giveaway that that you
are a visitor. Or that you are lost. Or both. Look like you are
used to one-way streets though you may not be.
46. If you feel somebody is following you, walk against the flow
of pedestrian traffic. In other words, be rude in order to test
your intuition. Get noticed. This maneuver allows others to
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Gold’s Guide to SAFE CITY TRAVEL
witness your predicament. If that person follows, seek help.
Walking against the flow of pedestrian flow may also counter
potential come-from-behind purse-snatchers.
47. Before traveling through an area or along a walkway,
consider the level of natural light present. Is the sidewalk or
road illuminated well enough for you to see everything or are
there areas hidden in shadows? Better lighting generally
equates with better-behaved people. Criminals are drawn to
less lighting. They seek the shadows. Avoid these areas.
48. When using a pay phone, guard what you say and do not let
wandering eyes see you punch in credit card numbers, PIN
numbers, and telephone numbers. When speaking into a
public phone, cell phone, or a speaker box, remain discreet,
speak quietly, and shield your lips. Look for strangers who
may be listening in on your conversation and then adjust
accordingly.
49. Do not look up or marvel at skyscrapers. Yes, that is why you
came and yes, they are awesome however gawking at them
can announce one of two things: that you are new to town, or
that you might be an unwary architect with deep pockets.
People notice what you notice. Insignificant actions can
broadcast more about you than what you want strangers to
know.
50. Avoid the rear of buildings, alleys, vacant lots, and heavy
landscaping. Do not venture onto dead ends such as docks,
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Smart Strategies for the Urban Day-Tripper
and stay off beaches, out of parks, and away from green
space after dark. If you choose to travel down alleys and
narrow streets, stay in the middle of the road. Avoid recessed
doorways, garage doors, and places where thugs can hide. Be
wary of anything that can shield your vision such as parked
vehicles, dumpsters, trees, blind corners, and truck bays.
51. Avoid animals and stray dogs. Rats, wild dogs, and alley cats
found anywhere in a city can be aggressive and some are
diseased. Where leash laws do not exist or are not enforced,
pet dogs typically run free. When approached by a curious
but strange dog, stay still and let it smell you. Running away
or moving quickly may cause the dog to attack. Also, avoid
approaching or touching police horses or animals accustomed
to pulling carriages. Never walk behind a horse as such
action can put you at risk of being kicked.
52. When approached by a stranger, avoid eye contact but do not
look down. Looking down can portray weakness. Keep your
eyes fixed on where you are going. Appear bored with it all
and walk with intent. If you hear someone mutter a
compliment or mumble something, keep moving. If you catch
someone’s eye and the person happens to float you a “feeler,”
such as a smile or a welcoming gaze, respond with attitude.
In most cases, this means acknowledging oncomers with a
quick and affirmative head nod. Afterall, not everyone on
city streets is out to get you. Most people are out to enjoy
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Gold’s Guide to SAFE CITY TRAVEL
themselves. Others may be searching for allies. Moving on
helps to remove you from potential danger while reinforcing
that you are not interested in skullduggery.
53. Pedestrians have the legal right of way at intersections.
However, exercising this right is not worth gambling with
your life. Not all drivers yield at intersections. Some
disregard red lights and many have no respect for crosswalks.
Do not trust eye contact with drivers as language to permit
you to step into the street. Do not rely solely on lighted,
musical, or mechanical signals to announce when it is safe to
cross a busy intersection. The safest intersection is one where
all traffic stops allowing pedestrians can cross to and from all
corners at once. Unfortunately, such traffic control is
becoming scarce. Use traffic signals as a guide only. Rely on
your eyes and ears to confirm when it is safe to leave the
curb. Speaking of curbs, stay clear of them. Step back. Give
active traffic plenty of room.
True Life Story Number 2 – Be Cautious Around
Strange People
One day, my college roommate and I went job hunting in Seattle.
While waiting at a downtown intersection we were joined by other
Seattleites, including an older man who was wearing a hat laced with
toys and jingles hanging from strings. As a group, we crossed the
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Smart Strategies for the Urban Day-Tripper
street and walked to the next intersection. While waiting for the light
to change, the man with the hat turned on my six-foot eight-inch tall
friend. He pulled out a knife and barked, “Leave me alone, I’m not
kidding.” My friend was appalled. Though everybody had noticed the
hat and toys, nobody had said anything to this person. We do not
know why he chose to approach my friend but it did not matter. To
some, size is an invitation. Just a bigger target. Anyway, everybody on
the corner backed away from the knife-wielding man. Then, when the
light changed, the disturbed man crossed the street alone, his boney
skeleton a drift in over-sized cloths while the toys and jingles hanging
from his hat danced in the breeze blowing off of Elliott Bay. The
lesson here is to be alert. If somebody or something seems odd,
something odd may happen and it could come your way.
Q&A
Q: I am in the city to enjoy myself. Why should I act like someone I
am not?
A: The idea is to avoid making you a target. Blend in with the crowd.
Appear as a local to everyone. Plan your trip well enough so that you
know, at minimum, where you are and where you are going.
Q: But I am on vacation. Isn’t this my time?
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Gold’s Guide to SAFE CITY TRAVEL
A: Yes, it is. However, being on vacation is not reason-enough to
travel in strange clothing, sling a 35mm camera over your shoulder,
and break out large street maps at intersections while gawking up at
skyscrapers. Try not to be conspicuous.
Q: I am not there to stand out. I want to relax. I find it hard to walk
with purpose when I am trying to take it easy. What’s wrong with
that?
A: Okay, let’s add the word complacent to conspicuous. By all means,
relax and enjoy your travel experience. That is why you are there.
However, stay focused and educate yourself as you move about the
city. Learn as you go. Mentally compare street names and landmarks
with what you remember from studying your maps. Do you see how
planning and preparation help you better understand your
surroundings while at the same time, allowing you the freedom to
relax?
Q: I’m confused. I still need to check my map. Do you expect me to
memorize it?
A: No. Just slip into a hotel, a department store, a restaurant -
anywhere safe. Break out the map out and study it. People that work in
such establishments are used to out-of-town visitors. While you are at
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Smart Strategies for the Urban Day-Tripper
it, ask for some tips or advise. It is amazing what you will learn from
the locals.
Q: I see. Then…bags and packages just get in the way, don’t they?
A: Unfortunately, they do. Too many handles, too many bags, and too
much weight can all work against you should you have to react
quickly to something. Besides, an abundance of carry-along items can
make you vulnerable. They may suggest that you could be a visitor
and therefore, an easy target. Carrying too much of anything is
cumbersome and it can be tiring. Ditch the bags and travel light or
have your purchases mailed home.
25

Gold's Guide to Safe City Travel overflows with strategies and practical advice
for city travel. An essential study for residents, commuters, shoppers, students,
sightseers, event goers, and anyone likely to visit a city, this book includes
chapters on pre-trip planning, traveling with children, driving, parking, using mass
transit, and self-preservation. Twelve chapters, twelve real-life stories, an index,
and over three hundred outlined tips help to ensure that urban day-trippers will
"know before they go."
Gold’s Guide to Safe City Travel
Order the complete book from
Booklocker.com
http://www.booklocker.com/p/books/6509.html?s=pdf
or from your favorite neighborhood
or online bookstore.