<p>My daughter is coming to Penn from life in the suburbs and will need street smarts to be successful in Philly. What are some do's and don'ts? Of course, we've all heard about not walking alone at night, but at what time can you walk alone? How early in the morning? What about hand bags and backpacks? Cash versus credit cards? ipods or no ipods? Walking to 30th street station? The more anecdotes, the better. We don't understand the universe of what works and what doesn't. Street vendors or not? Does everyone graduate with at least one mugging story before they figure it all out? I've been told that as long as you don't make eye contact, panhandlers will leave you alone. Life in the city is an essential part of the Penn offering that is exciting and doesn't need to be scary when equipped with a little knowledge.</p>
<p>To be honest, the Penn campus is pretty heavily patrolled. After it gets dark, I see penn police and security on every corner to ensure the safety of the students. The only problem I've had is being harassed by panhandlers but I just tell them I don't have time for their crap and I walk away. I've walked alone and had no trouble, so when you're in a group you're even better off. I've been out till 2:30 or 3:00 without a problem. Some streets off campus can get a little shady, but I haven't heard anything bad. If anything major happens, the UPennAlert system sends everyone a text message detailing the situation. Of course I don't use cash, everything is on my checkcard, but panhandlers will try to get you to go to an atm. Like I said before, however, just tell them you don't have time for their crap. Street vendors are okay, and have some of the best tastes of Philly for those who aren't loaded, imo. Also, if students feel unsafe, they can call the hotline for a free shuttle pickup anywhere on campus or a police/security walking partner by calling another number. Both numbers are provided on the first day of NSO. Ipods are fine, no worries. I come from the suburbs myself, and I feel perfectly safe in Philadelphia. Penn does a great job with security so you don't have to worry about what you bring with you when you travel around campus.</p>
<p>For the first couple of weeks, tell your daughter not to walk anywhere alone at night. She'll quickly adjust to the situation and develop judgment about what's safe and what's not and can then change her behavior if need be. That's my only tip, other than keeping an eye on all of your belongings when you go somewhere like Starbucks.</p>
<p>On the whole, it's a pretty safe place. The biggest crime is theft of unattended items.</p>
<p>the only truly dangerous situation is when a female student walks off-campus alone at night.
the campus itself has a lot of safety measures in place.</p>
<p>Don't leave your room unlocked even to go down the hall to the bathroom. Females should not walk alone at night. Stay in the brightly lit areas. Walking to 30th Street is fine- at night don't do it alone. It's not an expensive cab ride, either. The campus really is well patrolled.</p>
<p>just use common sense... rule of thumb: if you're drunk/alone take cab regardless of the distance</p>
<p>tell her to pack heat.</p>
<p>When i'm walking around where I live now (not west philly, though) I just wear tims, baggy jeans, a north face, throw the hood up, and walk like a thug when I'm walking through the hood at 2am.</p>
<p>The one time I wore cargo shorts I got mugged.</p>
<p>(Not sure how this can help a female... but like neutralnuke says, she can pack heat.)</p>
<p>Maybe trying hard to not look like a upenn student can help.</p>
<p>She should relax about it. Walking around the Penn campus, unless it's late enough at night to be really early in the morning, there are almost always lots of people around, and good security. I don't think you need a "don't walk alone" rule there. If she feels uncomfortable, call security. Off campus, yes she should walk with others at night, and going to 30th St. Station. She can also take a trolley to 30th St., which is cheaper than a cab.</p>
<p>And early in the morning, when it's really morning (5, 6 am) -- don't sweat it at all.</p>
<p>Ipods may not be a great idea when she is walking alone at night (the time she will most want to use one). If you are listening to an iPod, you aren't paying as much attention as you should, and of course you are advertising that you have something worth stealing. Ditto talking on the cellphone, although it's awfully hard to resist using that transit time to touch base with Mom.</p>
<p>Panhandlers exist. Say no.</p>
<p>The trucks are great -- one of the best parts of the Penn campus, and almost always a good value. Enjoy the trucks! That's part of what she moved in from the burbs for!</p>
<p>i feel pretty safe. penn police are everywhere and watch you like hawks; almost to the point where I feel overprotected. for guys, it is pretty simple. wear normal clothes, look a little intimidating and carry 30 bucks or less in cash and maybe a credit card. but if your card gets stolen, you just call the number on the back (should have that recorded) and its no big deal. you are looking at a max of 50bucks loss if the theif uses the card. basically, at night, you can walk alone around penn's campus. for me those boundries are from LRSM to leidy labs and the rectangle formed from those two points.</p>
<p>for a girl, it is a bit more complicated. walking off campus alone at night is a big no. on campus, its good to have a friend but penn's walking escort is good. 30th street station..you can take septa from 38th or 34th street or trolley.</p>
<p>I lived in the suburbs of DC and went to penn. I dont find it that strange anymore. after a few weeks, philly feels like home.</p>
<p>My general rule of thumb: If I don't see other people like me in the area, I feel somewhat unsafe. I don't want to be the only pedestrian in sight on a street with very few passing cars, for example. That probably makes me a pretty big wuss. The only times I've had street troubles in my life, I disregarded that rule.</p>