This story, (scroll down) unfortunately, confirms what we have been saying for some time, it’s not safe out there and public safety needs a much more serious focus, one the current Parkway management has been unable to deliver.
However, rangers take a much more proactive approach just up the American River near Auburn, as another article in Thursday’s Bee notes: “The rangers have a strong presence within the park and seem easy to find.”
For full article go here: http://www.sacbee.com/content/lifestyle/story/13469316p-14310180c.html
That “strong presence”, unfortunately, is not the situation on the Parkway, and that needs to change.
Here is the article about the attempted rape on the Parkway and one man's effort to help:
Helping to keep parkway safe
Safety steward offers to jog with women runners in the wake of attack on the trail.
By Edgar Sanchez -- Bee Staff WriterPublished 2:15 am PDT Thursday, August 25, 2005
Doug Thurston, an avid jogger, is a volunteer safety steward for the American River Parkway.
When he sees "shady" men on the parkway trail, the friendly Sacramentan warns solo women runners to beware and offers to run beside them.
"Half the time, the women will say, 'Don't worry about it; I'll be OK,' " Thurston, 45, said. "The rest of the time, they'll say, 'Sure, thank you.' "
Running in pairs is always a good idea, park rangers said, advice that was reinforced recently after a 63-year-old woman became the target of an attempted sexual attack as she jogged on a foot path off the main trail, near Sailor Bar in Fair Oaks.
On Aug. 11, a man approached the female jogger from behind and pushed her to the ground, Sacramento County sheriff's deputies said.
The assailant then lay on top of her, covering her mouth as he reached down to unzip his pants.
After a brief struggle, the woman escaped. The assailant ran away. As of Friday, no arrests have been made.
For the Rest of the story: http://www.sacbee.com/content/community_news/arden_carmichael/story/13465573p-14306529c.html
