Urban Awareness: Staying Safe in the City
Awareness and security in urban environments
Introduction
Being aware of your environment and having strategies, tactics and habits in place can greatly reduce the likelihood of you finding your self in a self defence situation.
In this article we will explore the practical ways to stay alert and safe in urban settings like on your bike, at home, in your car and while moving through the city.
General Awareness
The foundation of self defence is avoidance. The best way to avoid a dangerous situations is to have a general awareness of your environment and the ability make safe decisions based of your senses and observations.
Basic practices such as avoiding distractions (such as using your mobile phone or having headphones in), learning to trust your instincts in combination with gentle awareness of your environment will give you the best chances of success.
On Your Bike: Awareness While Cycling
Riding your bike in an urban environment requires more than just awareness of traffic. While riding a bike you can be at risk of theft, road rage, accidents or being followed. Here are some key strategies you can use to reduce your risk of encountering these situations:
Choose busy routes, avoid isolated shortcuts.
Check surroundings regularly using mirrors or shoulder glances.
Use reflective gear, lights and a helmet cam if possible.
Lock up with two types of locks and vary parking locations.
Be cautious at traffic lights and junctions. Stay visible and alert.
At Home: Personal Security and Awareness
When you are at home, the potential risks you may encounter include various threats such as burglary, scams, and door to door solicitations that may pose a danger to your safety. It is important to remain vigilant and aware of these risks to ensure a secure and safe living environment. Here are some key strategies you can use to reduce your risk of encountering these situations:
Keep doors and windows locked, even when home.
Use a peephole, chain, or camera before opening the door.
Don't overshare on social media (e.g. when away).
Install basic security: timers for lights, cameras, and alarm signs, even if dummy.
Teach all household members about safe routines.
In the Car: Staying Aware While Driving in the City
Risks when you are in a car in an urban environment include various issues such as carjacking, incidents of road rage, break-ins, and being followed by individuals with potentially harmful intentions. Here are some key strategies you can use to reduce your risk of encountering these situations:
Lock your doors as soon as you get in and keep windows up when driving slowly or stopped.
Stay alert at traffic lights and junctions, don’t zone out or get buried in your phone.
Be mindful of who’s around when parking or returning to your car, especially in multistorey car parks or quiet streets.
Avoid leaving valuables visible, even for a few minutes, it invites opportunistic break ins.
If you think you're being followed, don’t drive home, head to a busy, well lit area like a petrol station or police station and ask for help.
Use your mirrors not just for traffic, but to scan for unusual behavior from people or vehicles nearby.
Moving Through the City: On Foot or Public Transport
The main risks of traveling through the city on foot or public transport include; pickpocketing, harassment, being followed or attacked. Here are some key strategies you can use to reduce your risk of encountering these situations:
Stay in well populated, well lit areas.
Avoid dark alleys, empty carriages, and isolated stops.
Keep bags zipped and close to your body.
Have a phone but don't walk staring at it, scan ahead and around. Be Aware!
Know where safe places are (shops, staffed stations).
Plan your route in advance and avoid predictable patterns.
Conclusion
Although having different strategies for different environments in an urban setting is important, our most powerful line of defence is general awareness. This is because being aware can help you create habits that can help you avoid danger. This in turn will help you gain more confidence and reduce your fear as being knowledgeable and prepared is empowering.
We would highly recommend coming to our self defence classes so you can learn to apply these principles in a practical and safe way before using them in the real world. Your first lesson is free so come along and see how self defence can benefit you.