Neighborhoods to Avoid?

Hunter's Point I hear is pretty bad, as far as SF goes. I don't really feel completly safe in much of Oakland, given the murder rate. Richmond is supposedly pretty bad as well, but I've never really had a problem or felt threatened there.

I would avoid Hayward. Not because it is dangerous just because it is totally and completely boring! Sorry Haywardians. (But you know it is true.)

Yup, got that about Hayward. Heard that Hunter's Point can be rough - I drive past it on the 101 but haven't actually wandered around the area. For me, Oakland depends on where (downtown near Broadway versus other areas).

To tell you the truth the closest I've come to being mugged was in North Beach. I was living in an apartment there and it was always hard to find parking in the neighborhood so I would drive around until I found a place. This one night I got back kinda late and I ended up parking about five blocks away from my apartment. It must have been about 1 am. Maybe a little later on a weeknight in summer. I left my car and when I turned the corner I was on this dimly lit street and there was nobody else there as far as I could tell at first. As I headed down the street I noticed this guy leaning against a blacked out lamppost across the street. And just as I reached that point in the street he started to cross towards me.

I gave him a look. He had his hood up over his head and a dead stare and right then my stomach dropped out. And that was when I noticed another guy crossing ahead of me. Needless to say I thought I was toast, except that just then the door to one of the Victorians opened up and there were these two frat guys standing there. "Hey guys," I yelled up, my survival instinct kicking into full gear. And I ran up the stairs to them and they took one look at me and said "Are you okay," because they could see the look of pure terror on my face.

The creepy guys had already cleared out of there by then and the frat guys were nice enough to walk me home later. Which I told them I didn't need them to do, but we all knew I did. The next day I shelled out the fortune that it cost me to get a parking space under my apartment and then moved back to Berkeley at the end of the summer. (Strangely, I never really had much of problem in terms of feeling unsafe in Berkeley, but then again I was usely out in groups when I was there.)

That sounds awful Flowergirl. I must say that I've never really had any close calls around here. But if I were a woman living in the city, I suppose I would be much more catious.

Hunter's Point for sure on the top of the "avoid" list. I also avoid West Portal. (no offense) but it's shady there.
@FloewrGirl, that sucks about the almost mugging in NB. If it helps, I got punched in the chest by a homeless guy the first week I moved there. (He used to look like Kurt Cobain, luckily he has moved on from that neighborhood).

@Tracypie: Yikes. Yours is actually far worse, I just got a scare. But I guess if you are going to get punched it might as well be by someone who looks like a celebrity. (Maybe it was Kurt Cobain? He is probably hanging around with Jim Morrison and Elvis right now, planning who they're going to assault next.) Apologies in advance for what passes for humor in my circle.

I would avoid Hayward. Not because it is dangerous just because it is totally and completely boring! Sorry Haywardians. (But you know it is true.)
KissManga https://kiss-manga.com

As long as you stay on the main streets, SF at night is relatively safe. I grew up in the Mission, and I know that you should avoid Capp st after dark especially, as it is a kind of scary back street, even in daylight. Also, the alleys. I used to walk to school through some alleys, but that was during the day. So, stick to main streets after the sun sets.