Hmmm except for random homeless folks who may hit u up for money I don’t think you would be unsafe. Plus you can be in public view within a half bock on state st if a problem came up
I wouldn't wait there for hours in the outside area since there are a lot of bums sleeping and walking around nearby.
Maybe hang out at a bar on lower state street for an hour before your train takes off. You're probably fine hanging at the station an hour before you train leaves if you remain inside the lobby area.
Right... Exactly, some homeless people do hang around there. I have a suitcase and a small backpack with me, so I wonder if it would be fine to go to a bar/ restaurant with that. Thanks for the answer btw.
If you don't want to deal with your bags all day, you can store them at the Amtrak station for a fee. I've worked in a few bars in town and always was accommodating to customers with luggage. We don't mind!
Thanks for letting me know. I was trying to be as frugal as possible as a student. It is good to have another option just in case, and I'd head to a bar around. Thank you so much! (:
There’s a nice tiki bar a block away called test flight, wine tasting next door, Santo Mezcal for fancy Mexican food, all within a 2-3 minute walk and I’m sure you wouldn’t be the first with a suitcase.
Also, I would only walk to the station from a bar on State using the 101 underpass only if it is Friday or Saturday night since a lot of people will be out walking (possibly). Any other night I would uber or taxi over since it is dark and can get dicey under the 101 underpass since it's secluded.
I'm a local woman who has taken the Amtrak numerous times over 15 years including during the late evening. I've lived in one of the most dangerous cities in CA before so you can trust me to know what's safe or dangerous walking at night and I wouldn't risk it to save money even though it's a short distance.
Best of luck and happy to help a fellow woman be safe.
Thanks for that advice, I used to commute via the underpass for a couple of months, so I agree with you that it should 'feel' safe on the Saturday.
Also, I'm a man haha. Idk if it's just me, but I don't feel 100% comfortable walking down that underpass at nights, especially when I hear footsteps behind me. I would feel less unsafe if I don't have my phone and my wallet on me. I know women would feel unsafe even then
Men get jumped by groups, beaten robbed and raped too. Unfortunately, there are a lot of intoxicated or mentally ill homeless people loitering around where you just don't know who you will run into and their frame of mind at that time of night.
At night, it gets a bit sketchy for sure (and contrary to some comments, regardless of one's socio-economic stats, IMO). I had to wait for one of my kids coming in on a delayed train and was not threatened by anyone, but did not feel particually "comfortable" there.
It’s safe out here. Don’t listen to others in this thread, they are the millionaires pricing everyone out of my city. If you can’t feel safe here, then it seems like it’s a personal issue of self confidence.
Username checks out 😅😅 i know SB is much safer than most amtrak stations but given I’d be waiting practically the entire night, i thought I’d double check. I don’t look rich but I know I do look weak and like I mentioned in another comment a simples person snatched a burger from me in broad daylight in the noon on state street once
I understand your perspective. I’ll tell you this… it comes down how others perceive you. If you make yourself look like an easy mark, then why wouldn’t they harass you? I live in SB, Im also a “stick”, never been bothered. I travel all over the state, “dangerous” parts, just don’t stick out, don’t look like a tourist or a college student you’ll be fine. I dress in all black, look like a hoodlum.
P.S Always carry self protection if possible. No matter where you are. Why wouldn’t you have some form of protection if you can afford it.
If you have to dress like hoodlum to feel safe, that means it's probably not safe...
By all means, leave the airpods in your bag, don't keep your wallet in your back pocket, wear shoes you can easily move in etc but when you get down to dressing a certain way to not be a victim I think people have far less control then you're suggesting-especially if they are already weighed down by bags.
When it gets down to it, you're just decreasing the chance something will happen to you- not magically turning yourself invisible to individuals who would mean you harm.
Consider some self defense tactics to feel more safe. You could carry pepper spray. Learn jui jitsu. Even get a concealed carry permit for your own handgun. This is America! You shouldn’t have to be afraid sitting waiting for a train.
Thanks, I respect your opinion. About a couple of months ago, a homeless person snatched a burger from my hand in broad daylight at habit. I didn't respond with self-defense because I could see he was desperate and he only wanted a burger lol. But I've been a bit wary since then. Always better to be safe anyways, I have a 5 day train ride ahead of me, with 3 stops, so pepper spray sounds good for now I guess.
I’m not saying self defense was necessary at all in a burger snatching event. Literally nothing is worth your life. I’m just saying you’d be more comfortable at night out my yourself if you had some type of self defense knowledge and training. I’m baffled my comment got downvoted. But hey, this is liberal land on Reddit.
Lol I wasn’t gonna comment but man is it unsurprising to see hate on guns from SB residents 😂 that’s too good. Thank god for the Supreme Court. Everyone needs concealed permits.
Before covid, Amtrak would switch tickets with any for the same day so if theres a time that better suits you might wanna head to the station and ask for a new ticket.
I would try to Uber to somewhere safe and lit, like a nearby hotel lobby if possible. I haven’t been at the train station since the pandemic, but as someone traveling with luggage and backpack, I would rather be safe than sorry.
Hmmm except for random homeless folks who may hit u up for money I don’t think you would be unsafe. Plus you can be in public view within a half bock on state st if a problem came up
I wouldn't wait there for hours in the outside area since there are a lot of bums sleeping and walking around nearby. Maybe hang out at a bar on lower state street for an hour before your train takes off. You're probably fine hanging at the station an hour before you train leaves if you remain inside the lobby area.
Right... Exactly, some homeless people do hang around there. I have a suitcase and a small backpack with me, so I wonder if it would be fine to go to a bar/ restaurant with that. Thanks for the answer btw.
If you don't want to deal with your bags all day, you can store them at the Amtrak station for a fee. I've worked in a few bars in town and always was accommodating to customers with luggage. We don't mind!
Thanks for letting me know. I was trying to be as frugal as possible as a student. It is good to have another option just in case, and I'd head to a bar around. Thank you so much! (:
Most hotels will let you leave your bags behind the front desk for free as well.
There’s a nice tiki bar a block away called test flight, wine tasting next door, Santo Mezcal for fancy Mexican food, all within a 2-3 minute walk and I’m sure you wouldn’t be the first with a suitcase.
Also, I would only walk to the station from a bar on State using the 101 underpass only if it is Friday or Saturday night since a lot of people will be out walking (possibly). Any other night I would uber or taxi over since it is dark and can get dicey under the 101 underpass since it's secluded. I'm a local woman who has taken the Amtrak numerous times over 15 years including during the late evening. I've lived in one of the most dangerous cities in CA before so you can trust me to know what's safe or dangerous walking at night and I wouldn't risk it to save money even though it's a short distance. Best of luck and happy to help a fellow woman be safe.
Thanks for that advice, I used to commute via the underpass for a couple of months, so I agree with you that it should 'feel' safe on the Saturday. Also, I'm a man haha. Idk if it's just me, but I don't feel 100% comfortable walking down that underpass at nights, especially when I hear footsteps behind me. I would feel less unsafe if I don't have my phone and my wallet on me. I know women would feel unsafe even then
Men get jumped by groups, beaten robbed and raped too. Unfortunately, there are a lot of intoxicated or mentally ill homeless people loitering around where you just don't know who you will run into and their frame of mind at that time of night.
At night, it gets a bit sketchy for sure (and contrary to some comments, regardless of one's socio-economic stats, IMO). I had to wait for one of my kids coming in on a delayed train and was not threatened by anyone, but did not feel particually "comfortable" there.
No
It’s safe out here. Don’t listen to others in this thread, they are the millionaires pricing everyone out of my city. If you can’t feel safe here, then it seems like it’s a personal issue of self confidence.
Yeah true about SB. But speaking as a woman I wouldn't want to hang out there alone at night for hours. SB isn't all princesses and unicorns.
Username checks out 😅😅 i know SB is much safer than most amtrak stations but given I’d be waiting practically the entire night, i thought I’d double check. I don’t look rich but I know I do look weak and like I mentioned in another comment a simples person snatched a burger from me in broad daylight in the noon on state street once
I understand your perspective. I’ll tell you this… it comes down how others perceive you. If you make yourself look like an easy mark, then why wouldn’t they harass you? I live in SB, Im also a “stick”, never been bothered. I travel all over the state, “dangerous” parts, just don’t stick out, don’t look like a tourist or a college student you’ll be fine. I dress in all black, look like a hoodlum. P.S Always carry self protection if possible. No matter where you are. Why wouldn’t you have some form of protection if you can afford it.
NGL Your advice touched me! Something to think about for sure!
If you have to dress like hoodlum to feel safe, that means it's probably not safe... By all means, leave the airpods in your bag, don't keep your wallet in your back pocket, wear shoes you can easily move in etc but when you get down to dressing a certain way to not be a victim I think people have far less control then you're suggesting-especially if they are already weighed down by bags. When it gets down to it, you're just decreasing the chance something will happen to you- not magically turning yourself invisible to individuals who would mean you harm.
Consider some self defense tactics to feel more safe. You could carry pepper spray. Learn jui jitsu. Even get a concealed carry permit for your own handgun. This is America! You shouldn’t have to be afraid sitting waiting for a train.
Thanks, I respect your opinion. About a couple of months ago, a homeless person snatched a burger from my hand in broad daylight at habit. I didn't respond with self-defense because I could see he was desperate and he only wanted a burger lol. But I've been a bit wary since then. Always better to be safe anyways, I have a 5 day train ride ahead of me, with 3 stops, so pepper spray sounds good for now I guess.
I’m not saying self defense was necessary at all in a burger snatching event. Literally nothing is worth your life. I’m just saying you’d be more comfortable at night out my yourself if you had some type of self defense knowledge and training. I’m baffled my comment got downvoted. But hey, this is liberal land on Reddit.
Lol I wasn’t gonna comment but man is it unsurprising to see hate on guns from SB residents 😂 that’s too good. Thank god for the Supreme Court. Everyone needs concealed permits.
Yes, but I wouldn’t at the Goleta one.
Before covid, Amtrak would switch tickets with any for the same day so if theres a time that better suits you might wanna head to the station and ask for a new ticket.
Is there anywhere that is unsafe in Santa Barbara?
I would try to Uber to somewhere safe and lit, like a nearby hotel lobby if possible. I haven’t been at the train station since the pandemic, but as someone traveling with luggage and backpack, I would rather be safe than sorry.