Detroit Warnings and Dangers

Detroit is in the middle of a revival...a revolution. Go downtown for a sporting event or concert and you will see. Don't be afraid to explore, you will be surprised at what you find. Just be smart, street smart. If you like electronic music Detroit is the place to be. Fantastic DJ's come thru on the reg and you will see every walk of life enjoying the city. Detroit..come and explore but stay away from the neighborhoods if you don't know them or someone who lives there. You can explore but be mindful of your surroundings and stay in your car if you don't have protection.

Explore..
dont listen to people like DTOWNKITTY that does not know what they are talking about..

Dont lock your doors or roll your windows up.. act like a detroiter..
you think we drive around with locked doors and the windows up?

YOu cant escape a bullet if someone wants your car there gonna get it.
this IS detroit.

Detroit resembles most third world countries. I KNOW I have been to a few.

Detroiters are born with a special survival trait in there blood. We have street smarts and common knowledge that is unheard of and will get you by anywhere you go.

Get lost in our city. Once again dont let people like dtownkitty scare you. Im sure thats a suburban *** trying to scare people.
Stay away from downtown.. Downtown is full of tourist drivers and suburbanites.. get out of downtown ASAP when you can.. people drive like crap.

Go up gratiot and take it up to houston whittier or east grand.
go explorering.. youll be amazed at what you find.

check out the sw side too. its very sad over there. DESOLET and lonely not a sound for miles.

like I said get lost and have fun.. Detroiters are friendly. I understand most people not from detroit dont really know what to look for when you can see somthing bad comming your way.. we have it in our blood.
but just be smart. and friendly like I said. Dont ask a group of people in a lonely area for directions..

THERE ARE NO TRAVEL WARNINGS FOR DETROIT THIS ISNT THE 80's or 90's
most of our notorious projects are gone ..
crime has gone down..

what you see is the shell of an industrial capitol. FORDS, GM, and CHRYSLER raped this city for everything it had and left a hollowed out shell of unemployed cold people.

We have loads of snow, bumpy roads, good dope, sexy hookers, and there aint no PARTY LIKE A DETROIT PARTY..

SO HIT IT UP

I grew up in Detroit,back in the 60s and 70s,it was a great city,with very few bad neighborhoods. If you do not have to absolutely go to Detroit,you would be wise to stay away. Regardless of any positive reviews you read about Detroit,it is mere wishful thinking.Most of the city looks like a war zone and I have seen war zones.With the city about 87% black,if you are white, you are not welcome there and they are not afraid to let you know it. I will not go into the city without a handgun,this is what a once beautiful city has been reduced to. If you should find yourself having to travel through Detroit,stay on the freeways and do not get off until you are well out of the city.

Detroit is an interesting place as far as reviews go. You will usually find one of two extremes. The reviewer will either bash the place outright, usually without real experience in the City or tell you its the land of milk and honey out of a good hearted but misguided desire to "bring the City back." I have lived and worked in Detroit almost my life. I will offer my honest advice: Detroit is a very dangerous city. Period. That said, keep in mind that most large urban cities in America are just as dangerous. If you don't know the City and are not confortable in large urban areas, keep to the most populated downtown areas exclusively and don't wear expensive jewelry or flashy clothes. Don't wander around, especially after dark. The residential areas are usually the most dangerous areas with gas stations being among the most dangerous places of all. If you are from out of town, by all means get your gas in the suburbs if at all possible. Otherwise, enjoy the sites. We have some fantastic restraunts, fun casinos, and a world class art museum!

I grew up visiting Detroit with family and attended Wayne State University dead center of the city. Never had issues. When living in Windsor Canada for 8 years drove through the city via the tunnel and again, never an issue. Walk and drive and park to go to restaurants and entertainment facilities, and once again no issues. As with anywhere be careful where you are but overall, don't stay in your suburban hotel. Get out and see the city. It's always best if you have someone who is a detroiter so they can give you stories and facts. If you are alone it's tough because we are not a taxi friendly place. There's also no mass transit. That's the only issue because most people don't stay in the city center.

if you are new or a visitor, stay in well lit areas after dark, like downtown, or major roads, like michigan ave, woodward ave, warren ave, etc, and never let your car get blocked in,. there are many things to see in the D, but i try to go in numbers, because your less likey to be a target that way,. most folks no when there out of there element,. PS. this aint disney land but people gotta live here!!!

Be careful when driving in Michigan, in general, because our expressway speed limits are 70, and not 65, we do not receive federal road funding, as a result, some of our roads are among the very worst in this country, potholes you could sleep in, bumps, cracks, you name it. Drivers are aggressive, and driving can be dangerous in some parts of the city. A friend of mine who is also from the area and her 2 girlfriends were carjacked on a side street between 6 mile and 9 mile, ( I don't remember exactly where she told me she was..) pistol whipped, and robbed. If you're driving somewhere not on the freeway or in any part of town that looks uncomfortable, roll up your windows all the way, or maybe just leave a crack in them, especially at railroad tracks, stop lights, etc.

We have a lot of homeless people who beg for a living. Most are drug addicts or alcoholics, or simply people with mental problems. Don't give them money, just ignore them, they sometimes get aggressive if you happen upon a drunk one or something. Carry pepper spray with you if you're concerned about it. They tend to hang out outside of clubs and bars, places where they have concerts, etc., and beg from people not from the area.

Also, avoid wearing gang colors in some parts of town, don't flash your headlights at people, give the finger, etc., it can only incite violence, you're better off ignoring rude people. White tourists often face heckling and harassment from some black "gangster" types in shadier parts of town.

Obviously, be aware of your surroundings, don't buy drugs, and watch out for any kind of shady activity and you'll be fine.

http://www.drivemi.org/potholes/index1.php - pothole pictures

I've lived in the suburbs of Detroit all my life (22 years). Reading some of these ridiculous, ignorant comments made me laugh. Downtown Detroit is safe and I've NEVER had a problem or felt unsafe. There are scores of homeless people and they're generally easy going and just ask for money (just say "I ain't got nothin'" and keep it moving). As for the areas outside of Downtown - don't wander and you'll be fine. If you don't have a reason to drive down Warren Ave. at 2am, than don't. I've worked off of 8 mile and livernois (ferndale/detroit) and I've never had an issue. Just like any poverty stricken warzone, don't go where you belong. And to the people that said, "driving two blocks can be a difference between a nice neighborhood and a dangerous ghetto," this is not really true. It's a gradual shift, you can tell when you're entering a seedy area, and if you don't have any business being there, turn around. if not, well that would be like signing up for the army and then being upset when they send you to iraq, now wouldn't it? now I know some will argue that out of towners can get lost, but in all seriousness, you'll most likely be traveling by car and you can change your surroundings very quickly with the mashing of the gas pedal.