This article highlights an issue which, as a white male, took me a long time to grok. Unlike men, a lot of women live in a constant state of concern for their safety, which often evolves into fear if daily conditions tighten a bit. As a man, I never feel concerned for my safety when walking major trails. Women, I imagine, have to be at least a little bit on the defensive at all times. Incidents like this one, which are common in type if not in intensity, only confirm that their concerns are correct.

A society in which most men don't have daily fear but many (most?) women do: perhaps that's a clear example of one way this is a patriarchal society.

@PeaceLove - thats why a gun is a great equaliser.

No, far too many women shot with their own guns to make the above statement true. Each case is different. Too many times the gun gets used on the owner.
Lots of stories like this one about the owners gun being used on them. I just grabbed the 1st one I saw, there's lots more:
Web Link

Harassment on the Steven's Creek Trail? My wife and I walk on the trail and we are harassed daily by spandex-clad, incredibly stupid and aggressive bicycle riders. These idiots ride daily at 30 mph, missing pedestrians by less than one foot when passing, particularly at underpasses. They are totally irresponsible and out of control, testosterone-poisoned fools who don't realize that they must yield to pedestrians. The speed limit is 15 mph. MV must enforce that limit and cite any insane bicyclists riding faster than that. MV must realize that bicycles are incompatible both with pedestrians and cars. It would be better for all of us who walk or drive if they didn't exist.

"It would be better for all of us who walk or drive if they didn't exist."

With comments like that, YOU want to be taken seriously?

Grow up already.

Steve-

I understand the instinct that owning a gun can help keep you safe but I think that's a very questionable assumption. This Marine Corps weapons instructor has a very thorough and even-handed examination of this question: Web Link

OldMV - Must you hijack a comment thread about an incidence of violence directed at women on the trail to complain about others who use the trail inconsiderately? A little perspective, maybe?

This trail is beautiful but it is horrifying to run alone, especially in the early mornings. There are so many bushes that scare me JUST like the one this man is behind! My worst nightmare.
It's sad to think this happened mid-afternoon.

PeaceLove-

I followed your link and read the whole statement by the instructor.

It reads like someone who knows their stuff and knows that most people are idiots who will hurt themselves, but it's full of inaccuracies and false setups.

- A gun is used infrequently and must be taken care of. yup, so do it. The same thing could be said for your lawnmower. The fact that something can fail if you don't follow through is not an argument against doing it.

- People are only present 27% of the time when there's a break-in. Great! So then you didn't need your weapon. Again, how is that an argument against owning a weapon? It's not.

- Guns are hard to shoot straight. BS! Go to a range and set a target at 10-15 feet away and see how often you miss. Shooting at small targets on a range is not a valid comparison. Even if you hit only an extremity it's going to put the target off their game. Firing 5-6 shots at that range would settle things quickly.

- Inexperienced people can shoot stupidly. Yeah, and people don't drive too well without training. Obviously if you get a weapon, you get training. Again, not an argument.

- Emergencies don't happen when/how you expect. Again, this is obvious. The weapon is to increase your chances, it's not a cure-all. If you don't have your gun, you're no worse off then if you never had one.

- What if someone disarms you and now has your gun? If they were willing to shoot you with your gun and skilled/brave enough to disarm you then they didn't need a gun and you would be worse off if you didn't have the weapon. At least with a gun you have a chance however small against a hand to hand trained homicidal intruder bent on killing you.

- You will be fumbling and stumbling for your weapon when you need it. Again, if you don't practice then your stupid and weapons are irrelevant to the survival of such a person.

- Killing someone, yeah that would suck, but it's better than being killed or having a loved one killed, raped, etc.

You do the math. Anything can go wrong, if you buy something dangerous and don't respect it then yeah you'll probably be worse off, but that's a lot of if's.

"These idiots ride daily at 30 mph, missing pedestrians by less than one foot when passing, particularly at underpasses."

I used to ride for a club team. Riding 30 mph for even a minute is darn near impossible for the vast majority of people. I ride and walk the trail with my family, I have never, not once, had any bicyclists pass us at high speed. You don't like bicyclists, simple as that.

Sorry BvP, must disagree. I used to walk that trail daily, from 8:10 - 8:50 and while cyclists may not be doing 30mph, they most certainly ARE passing at very high speeds, very close, and often displaying anger or annoyance with pedestrians.

I'll be very upfront and state that I am not pro-cycling, I don't feel that they should have equal access to roads that I feel should be prioritized for cars. That said, I also realize that Stevens Creek is a sort of "cycling commute trail" and the time I used to walk there was their time for getting to work. I respect that, I made sure to stay far to the right and give them space. It was just common sense to me and I'd rather have them on the trail then on the streets. It's one of the reasons I don't walk that trail anymore and go out to Rancho.

Just a shame many of those same cyclists don't show the same respect for cars on streets.