I’ve heard there’s a lot of crime in New Orleans, and I’m wondering if it’s just typical city life kind of stuff where you just pay attention and use your head or if it’s more mug you in your sleep even if you live in a nice neighborhood kind of stuff.
I’ve also heard that the good/not so good neighborhoods are right on top of each other anyway, a block this way = safe/a block that way = not safe.
It seems like such a great city considering all the live music and the gulf climate, but I’m thinking of visiting there alone and I’d like to be prepared. It’s fun to get kind of lost when visiting a new city, is it safe to wander in New Orleans?
-The good block/bad block thing is definitely true, but most people will not bother you. People here are very talkative and will ask you how you are doing, but you’re not likely to get robbed unless you are in a REALLY bad area, of which do exist.
-You can ride through pretty much any area on a bicycle without any problems. No one is going to chase after you we’re not that crazy.
-I would almost certainly not “wander” around and get lost here, especially at night, and especially when alone.
-My rap sheet: I’ve had my house broken into twice, my car broken into once, and I got jumped by 3 guys once.
Easiest, most general rule: when in the French Quarter at night, stay south of Rampart.
Also, don’t walk through the less-well-lit, purely residential parts of the Quarter at night. Stick to Bourbon, Royal, Chartres, and Decatur. E.g. if you walk through the Quarter to the Marigny to see jazz at Snug Harbor or The Spotted Cat (recommended!!) walk down Decatur, not Bourbon. Bourbon goes from all bars/clubs to all residential about halfway.
I lived in the French Quarter for two years after Katrina.
My rap sheet: one stolen bicycle, one bicycle broken/crushed and left in the lock, one 2am home invasion by three crackheads.
That’s some good info. Ive been to New Orleans a few times now and just love it, but maybe naive Canadian that I am I haven’t been as careful as I should be. Will cetainly check out the cat. Pretty sure we strolled by it last time.
missed the edit window:
I can’t tell though, if it’s a neighborhood thing like it is in many cities. For example in San Francisco (which doesn’t really compare statistically) you’re pretty safe in some spots, and possibly not in others. When you do find yourself in the sketchy neibs you just kind of move fast and keep your head down. Is N.O similar or not at all? Are there safe neighborhoods where you could live and not worry too much about crime?
