Parking Garage Safety?

[smilequeen]

I suppose it would depend on where I am, but I don?t generally worry that much. I trust my instincts but I?m not going to be nervous just because the other person in the elevator is male. That said, I take the stairs just for that added little health benefit.

[Liziz]

The only time I'm really uncomfortable with a parking garage are the times I'd be uncomfortable going to my car anywhere -- super late at night alone, which thankfully is pretty rare! I park in a parking garage most days for work lately.

I prefer stairs over elevators whenever possible, because they're normally faster and I like the physical activity. In terms of safety, my guess would be (from safest to least safe) open air stairs, elevator, closed stairs. I consider a closed elevator slightly better than closed stairs just because in most places, the stairs have less foot traffic.

I'm always interested in whether our perceptions on dangers/safety topics are backed up by data. A quick google had lots of things referencing parking garages as the third most common location for crime. But, when I look at the FBI's Crime Data Explorer, what I see is that ALL parking (lots and garages) are grouped together under one heading. My takeaway from looking at it is that parking of any sort is riskier than other activities, period, but when I think of how infrequently I'm in them compared to other locations, I'm not super stressed either. I think whether street parking/open lot vs. parking garage is safer is probably very situational (is there security? are there cameras? how long is the walk? how well lit? etc. etc. etc.) I also realize your question was related to stairs vs. elevators and not lots/street parking vs. garages!

If anyone's interested, most recent data for violent crime locations, by % then (actual #) is below -- I couldn't find a good way to aggregate all violent crime without downloading data, but here's the top three for each of their categories:

Aggravated Assault:
Residence/Home - 54% (1,401,977)
Highway/Road/Alley/Street/Sidewalk - 21% (550,736)
Parking/Drop Lot/Garage - 6% (152,204)

Homicide:
Residence/Home - 46% (28,143)
Highway/Road/Alley/Street/Sidewalk - 28% (16,937)
Parking/Drop Lot/Garage - 8% (4,826)

Rape:
Residence/Home - 70% (290,591)
Other/Unknown - 6% (24,655)
Hotel/Motel - 5% (20,549)
(Parking is 5th on the list with 3%/10,830)

Robbery:
Highway/Road/Alley/Street/Sidewalk - 25% (188,697)
Residence/Home - 17% (130,308)
Parking/Drop Lot/Garage - 9% (72,138) (Convenience stores are also at 9%, although the # is slightly less)

https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/LATEST/weba...me/crime-trend

[dogmom]

I vote other because it has never occurred to me alone to worry about safety. Is the garage near a sports venue and therefore the stairs might smell like piss? Sure, that sways me, but never something bad is going happen.

Although it does appear a good portion of people I work with worry about it, and I work with mostly females. Some people, my close friend, get really stressed. It had caused some issues between us since she thinks I invalidate her feelings because I don’t understand and don’t get frightened. It took some working through and I make sure I validate her feelings, but she understands it’s somewhat irrational given other relative risks and doesn’t get triggered by me not doing the same things she would do.

[StantonHyde]

I park in a garage every day to go to work and get in elevators with a variety of people in the office building-co workers, patients, etc. I am aware of my surroundings but that?s it.


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[hbridge]

Thanks everyone.

Last year I was in the mall with a young female relative who HATES escalators. We were headed to the car and went to the elevator in Macy's to go down a level. It was a two-floor store. The elevator opened and a young man was standing in it. We asked if he was coming out, he said "no". We hesitated but got into the elevator. He pushed the button; we road down; got out and he pushed the button up for the next person.

My young friend said that when we got into the elevator she didn't know if he was just someone who loved riding an elevator or if we were about to get murdered! He was polite, accommodating and was actually doing a very good deed. In retrospect, I wish I had thought to give him a tip. I hope very much he did not get in any trouble for being an "elevator operator". This is what our society has come to; woman are afraid of males in MANY situations .

[SnuggleBuggles]

This is what our society has come to; woman are afraid of males in MANY situations .

In Paris last summer, my family were the lone people on a train platform. I was a little creeped out (on pickpocket alert) I was even more so when a young guy came and stood near us. Plenty of space, could have stood anywhere. Then I thought about it? if my young 20 something were solo he likely would have been nervous too and would want to stand by the nice family. And, I would have suggested that he follow his gut in situations that give him pause. He eventually started talking to us and turns out he, like us, missed the last train and was trying to regroup. Nice kid. Best not to assume I?ll intent. Most people are just trying to get on with their day.

[hbridge]

In Paris last summer, my family were the lone people on a train platform. I was a little creeped out (on pickpocket alert) I was even more so when a young guy came and stood near us. Plenty of space, could have stood anywhere. Then I thought about it? if my young 20 something were solo he likely would have been nervous too and would want to stand by the nice family. And, I would have suggested that he follow his gut in situations that give him pause. He eventually started talking to us and turns out he, like us, missed the last train and was trying to regroup. Nice kid. Best not to assume I?ll intent. Most people are just trying to get on with their day.

Yep, I am the OP and HATE that society has told us to be afraid. I try to not assume... I just didn't know if the stairs or elevator is safer.

SnuggleBuggles; thank you for the reminder that the men are sometimes just as afraid as we are .

Advising our young girls (and boys) about how to navigate the world is so much more complicated than it needs to be.

[elektra]

In Paris last summer, my family were the lone people on a train platform. I was a little creeped out (on pickpocket alert) I was even more so when a young guy came and stood near us. Plenty of space, could have stood anywhere. Then I thought about it? if my young 20 something were solo he likely would have been nervous too and would want to stand by the nice family. And, I would have suggested that he follow his gut in situations that give him pause. He eventually started talking to us and turns out he, like us, missed the last train and was trying to regroup. Nice kid. Best not to assume I?ll intent. Most people are just trying to get on with their day.

Just wanted to add that the most recent "pickpocket" type incident that someone (adult man) close to me went through was by someone who appeared very friendly and helpful. This person directed the victim to a specific ATM that must have had one of those card capture devices and it took his ATM card.

Same with my college boyfriend when he was traveling through Europe years ago. He and his travel mate were befriended by a young man seemingly needing help and then in exchange offered them a tip for a great hostel. Turned out it was a whole scam to lead them to a deserted area to pull a knife on them and take their money and passports.

So IME it's the seemingly nice people who have done the most damage! They make you feel safe.

You really never know so I totally get having your guard up in unfamiliar situations. Interestingly both incidents I described happened to men who I think generally don't have their guard up.

The Macy's elevator thing wouldn't have bothered me though. I get that it was just two floors, but maybe there was a service floor. I have many times gotten on when I realize I forgot something in my room (ex. hotel) or that I thought it was going up and it was actually going down or whatever.

I get that everyone has their own level of comfort and past experiences though. I try not to assume negative intent but also am aware that bad people can appear very nice as well.

[♥ms.pacman♥]

I have to park in basement-level parking garage whenever i go into work - so 3days a week these days. it odesn't bother me bc i'm never there super early or late...it's always pretty full/crowded with lots of people walking around. i'm lucky though that it's a fancy building that has parking garage attached/embedded and there are security guards walking around a lot. To get into the building you need a keycard, and that opens up to a lobby with TV's and from there i take the elevator. I'ts nice bc in the winter or summer (which are brutal here) I don't have to go outside in open air.