Exactly how safe is the avenue?

arryanna

The SU updated their Facebook status tonight stating;

"There have been a couple of attacks on DCU students walking down the avenue at night after leaving The Hub in the last week. PLEASE be careful when traveling too and from college, be vigilant at all times and where possible avoid traveling on your own. If you see or hear of anything suspicious, please report all incidents to DCU security straight away or else come see us upstairs in the Hub at anytime."

From what I recall this is the second or third warning of this nature issued by our SU. Does anyone know anything else on the situation, like the type of people being targeted, times that the attacks normally occur, has anyone been hurt etc?

I'm quite sensible in that I try to avoid walking alone up the avenue at night, but sometimes it just can't be helped, like my bus from home takes around 4-5 hours-ish, and the timetable is so irregular that it can be 11pm or so when i get here :mad:

In my opinion that avenue is creepy, probably the worst thing about living on campus... dread having to walk up/down it alone in the dark

GLaDOS

Where is "the avenue"? The road up to ballymun road entrance?

arryanna

Yep thats it indeed!

GLaDOS

Never heard it refered to that and I've been around DCU a good while

smokiebeverage

I left DCU 15 years ago, and that bloody avenue was a disaster then, I'm a bloke (big scared one!!) and I used to walk around the main road and come in the other gate just to avoid it at night. You think after 15 years they would have lit that up like a christmas tree at night!

GLaDOS

Part of the problem probably relates to the entrance to the park. You get some colourful chracters there...

arryanna

The first time I received an email from the SU about attacks I was really nervous, being from a small town thats normally quiet and all. I had to walk up to get a bus on the Ballymun Road one night and asked a member of security who was just walking around outside the Hub, would he be able to maybe walk me at least half way or keep an eye on me going up. He gave out to me and told me to clear off he doesn't have to babysit the students!! It really is no wonder these attacks are taking place when some members of security have that kind of attitude

smokiebeverage

ScienceNerd wrote: »

Part of the problem probably relates to the entrance to the park. You get some colourful chracters there...

Thats an understatement!! But when you think about it stick up a decent fence and close of the entrances to to park at night, which many parks already do. It should be an easy fix for a university which has built a small town since I was there!

Pygmalion

Had a group of guys take a few swings at me last night about 9PM coming up to the hub, no real harm done thankfully, just a cut lip.
Most of them did nothing, just one or two of them hit out at me before they all walked off, but the rest of them seemed casual enough about it, got the impression it wasn't the first (or last) time alright.

slasher_65

arryanna wrote: »

The first time I received an email from the SU about attacks I was really nervous, being from a small town thats normally quiet and all. I had to walk up to get a bus on the Ballymun Road one night and asked a member of security who was just walking around outside the Hub, would he be able to maybe walk me at least half way or keep an eye on me going up. He gave out to me and told me to clear off he doesn't have to babysit the students!! It really is no wonder these attacks are taking place when some members of security have that kind of attitude

Us new first years were told to ask security to walk up with us, if we wanted, by the head of security!

Limerick Dude

arryanna wrote: »

The first time I received an email from the SU about attacks I was really nervous, being from a small town thats normally quiet and all. I had to walk up to get a bus on the Ballymun Road one night and asked a member of security who was just walking around outside the Hub, would he be able to maybe walk me at least half way or keep an eye on me going up. He gave out to me and told me to clear off he doesn't have to babysit the students!! It really is no wonder these attacks are taking place when some members of security have that kind of attitude

It's funny that you say that because Universities in different countries usually provide a service were a member of security can accompany you around campus after dark.

Just shows how backward we are in this country!

Cy_Revenant

It doesn't help that over half the streetlights on that stretch are out. I walk that track four nights a week and that bothers me ever time.

I recall being warned about it during the security briefing in first year. If it's really as bad as they say, the least they could do is put some streetlights on it.

JoePie

Some little pup snatched my sweets out of my hand and ran one night, but that was all I'd ever seen or heard of in five years. There always seemed to be enough people around. Weird that this all happens once I'm gone.

"The Avenue" is actually called Lime Avenue....apparently!

On google maps anyway. And we know Google is the holder of all truths!! :P

But yeah, it should be lit up like a Christmas Tree. Then people would feel safer.

The more illuminous, the more at ease people will be.

The "attackers" are resistant to light :P

adamski8

hmmmm ive never see anything happend there, doesnt seem that dangerous to me! I often walk through the park a couple of nights a week by myself between 9-11 and never been hassled/seen anything. Thought there was a problem in the park 6/7 years ago but this thread maybe has opened my eyes a bit then!
whats the story are people being robbed or just started on?

Psychosis

I never realised it was that bad.

Im a part time evening student so I regularly walk that stretch between 8:30-10pm on the way home.

Seen a few kids hanging around and sometimes shouting at people in the hub but they never looked older than 15.

I'll be on my guard now though, might be worth walking around the road for a few weeks.

Edit : I was looking on google maps and came across this photo of "The Avenue".



http://www.flickr.com/photos/mehfesto/2928972082/

mehfesto

That's my photo!

Taken at 6am with a fairly expensive camera. And I'd no bother sauntering around the place. Even at night I reckon that's a safe enough area.

adamski8

Cy_Revenant wrote: »

It doesn't help that over half the streetlights on that stretch are out. I walk that track four nights a week and that bothers me ever time.

I recall being warned about it during the security briefing in first year. If it's really as bad as they say, the least they could do is put some streetlights on it.

i had a look tonight and only saw one that isnt working, its a pretty busy avenue and i think its pretty well lit too, i dont know why people are so intimidated by it.
i mean its just 1 pathway! whats more light gonna do? groups of people dont hang out at the sides drinking etc.
obviously though people are getting attacked probably as people have said because its on the way to the park entrance. guess the only solution is security presence there

Cy_Revenant

adamski8 wrote: »

i had a look tonight and only saw one that isnt working, its a pretty busy avenue and i think its pretty well lit too, i dont know why people are so intimidated by it.
i mean its just 1 pathway! whats more light gonna do? groups of people dont hang out at the sides drinking etc.
obviously though people are getting attacked probably as people have said because its on the way to the park entrance. guess the only solution is security presence there

I noticed that too. They seem to have been repairing them. They were all on all day today.

Before today, they were pretty much all out.

Hauk

It's fine. I've never had problems.

5huggy

It is quite eery when your walking down there at night. You come across some dodgy characters from time to time but i haven't been bothered. A fox ran out in front of me and into the park one time which made my day..

Urizen

The problem is, no matter how often its pointed out, that it's still DCU campus. Students generally feel that while they're on campus, they're pretty much safe.

That about security is really shocking. I've only ever had them be snarky once, when they locked up the nursing building, with my meds in it, an hour early and I had them let me in. Still, this is their job. As is looking after students, even if its only watching them walking to make sure they're ok.

If security actually patrolled that area at night, as they probably should, we wouldn't be having this problem.

Jesus Wept

Had some ***** throwing things from the park once.

Hauk wrote: »

It's fine. I've never had problems.

It's fine so.
Show's over.

Urizen

Urizen wrote: »

The problem is, no matter how often its pointed out, that it's still DCU campus. Students generally feel that while they're on campus, they're pretty much safe.

That about security is really shocking. I've only ever had them be snarky once, when they locked up the nursing building, with my meds in it, an hour early and I had them let me in. Still, this is their job. As is looking after students, even if its only watching them walking to make sure they're ok.

If security actually patrolled that area at night, as they probably should, we wouldn't be having this problem.

Security are pricks.

I walked the avenue twice a day for five years (mostly going home when it was dark) and never once had or saw any trouble. It's probably rare.

Gman1

Parks atract scum, build bigger fences and they will go elsewhere.

wonderfulname

I was wondering why I was seeing security down there, what exactly has been happening?

phantom_lord

Why do we have so much security in the bar now, last year they only had one guy, sitting outside early last night I felt like Jed Bartlet.

fakearms123

Spent 5 years in DCU and walked down "the avenue" (never heard it being called that before, at first I thought you were talking about collins avenue) and didn't see one thing bad happen, I walked out that road every night heading down to my friends house down the road. You might find some interesting people coming out of the park but usually only some kids who might have something to say about you but nothing bad.

Are you a girl? as in a female?

Wolfe Tone

Ive walked it a good few times in the dark, no trouble

Attol

This is my 4th year in DCU. I've only really noticed one incident on there in that time. It involved some idiot DCU students. A group of about 8 guys was obviously locked. It was about 9pm and I was walking to Ballymun road to catch a bus. A couple of them decided to try grab me and such but roaring "DO NOT F---ING TOUCH ME. GET THE F--- AWAY FROM ME" did the trick. They seemed to think that they were hilarious and charming. They weren't. They were just your average drunken idiots.

If you don't feel comfortable walking down it try and get a friend to walk down with you. I only really find it messy on the nights of big drunken events. I don't think I've seen hassle at any other times from students.

Urizen

Attol wrote: »

A couple of them decided to try grab me and such but roaring "DO NOT F---ING TOUCH ME. GET THE F--- AWAY FROM ME" did the trick.

Ha, fair play

RubyRoss

I’m from a rural area myself (dark and creepy as you like with a bar of local loons) but I’ve noticed that girls from the country can be very cautious about urban areas once evening sets in.



We hear stories about attacks and are right to be cautious but it’s important to remember that ‘girl walks home alone and nothing happens’ never makes the news headlines.

The avenue seems well-lit up on the walking side and there is a constant flow of student traffic during the week. On weekend nights, however, the place is more isolated so I would be more aware of walking around.

carlowboy

Only incident I ever saw was when I and a group of lads were walking to the bus stop, heading out on the town when some girl started screaming "DO NOT F---ING TOUCH ME. GET THE F--- AWAY FROM ME" at us for no reason. It was strange.

Sod'o swords

Apart from some young fellas' acting the mick the only trouble i've had anywhere in DCU is from DCU students themselves. Mostly 1st years living away from mammy for the first time who had one too many fantas.

davelarkan

At the Union Council the SU addressed it a little. Apparently there have been rumours of a stabbing floating around DCU which is em... not true at all...

There were 3 reported "attacks" and it was mainly ~16 year olds being twats. There'll be more security and the Guards will be patrolling the park more often. It's fairly well lit but apparently the little feckers were going out of their way to break the lights.

Also SU say security will be happy to walk anyone up the avenue if people are feeling scared.

wonderfulname

Stabbing? What? Why have I not heard this?
Must go buy myself a stock of them attack alarm keychains the SU are selling!

Is it just me or are security doing f all more than sitting in a jeep at on end of the avenue? May as well not be there at all.

muldoon-boi

It was at the start of the first semester during freshers week...The night of the Pyjama party in NuBar.

Me and my roommate was walking home (just past the junction on collins ave.) and this group of 8 lads was shouting at us from the other side of the road. We ignored them but one of them ran towards us, all of a sudden he was behind us and he broke a empty bud bottle across my roommates head and ran away... We didnt stay too long but we stopped a Squad car on the way home and let them know about it...

WalterMitty

Never thought it was unsafe. If i was a girl id wait till another group of people are walking and walk alongside them if i felt so afraid . I've never once heard of a stabbing or rape or life lost in or around DCU involving DCU students and i have lived in area 20 years and went to dcu for 5 years.

Gman1

muldoon-boi wrote: »

It was at the start of the first semester during freshers week...The night of the Pyjama party in NuBar.

Me and my roommate was walking home (just past the junction on collins ave.) and this group of 8 lads was shouting at us from the other side of the road. We ignored them but one of them ran towards us, all of a sudden he was behind us and he broke a empty bud bottle across my roommates head and ran away... We didnt stay too long but we stopped a Squad car on the way home and let them know about it...

Is your mate ok? Same thing happened to me about 2 years ago ended up in hospital.

There was quite a few scumbags in the park today.

slasher_65

The scumbag ratio has increased this week due to it being mid-term break. The areas outside Gateway have gotten rather dodgier in the last few days, I just got in from SuperValue, where one group had smashed a bottle over a car.

Gman1

slasher_65 wrote: »

The scumbag ratio has increased this week due to it being mid-term break. The areas outside Gateway have gotten rather dodgier in the last few days, I just got in from SuperValue, where one group had smashed a bottle over a car.

They see some students as easy targets. The scumbags should all be exterminated

Psychosis

slasher_65 wrote: »

The scumbag ratio has increased this week due to it being mid-term break. The areas outside Gateway have gotten rather dodgier in the last few days, I just got in from SuperValue, where one group had smashed a bottle over a car.

I guess thats what it is but i never noticed this on previous mid-term breaks.

Maybe the local scum are riled due to the cutting of their dole monies.

Gunslinger92

Yeah, the fact that it's midterm isn't helping, the amount of scumbags I've seen around the place walking home has practically doubled :rolleyes:

muldoon-boi

Gman1 wrote: »

Is your mate ok? Same thing happened to me about 2 years ago ended up in hospital.

There was quite a few scumbags in the park today.

Yea luckily he was fine...mixture of hard headedness and drink...
I think they need to extend the security duties to Collins avenue too...a van driving up and down every 10 minutes wouldn't go amiss after every major night in Nubar

Pygmalion

My main concern when I had some hassle on Sunday was that there's a huge amount of people coming back to DCU from the country around that time (it was only 9PM) most weekends.
It's grand when you can just walk by, even if one or two of them does take a swing at you, but if you're walking down the avenue with a heavy bag and some valuables you're pretty much ****ed if they decide they want to start something.

Even if it is a relatively rare/new thing I still say security should get a bit more active down there if only for this reason.

Scrappychimow

You have to be streetwise,its the same in any city in any country ... if you walk around with a sissy attitude and bootleg jeans you're asking for trouble man.

andyman

Scrappychimow wrote: »

You have to be streetwise,its the same in any city in any country ... if you walk around with a sissy attitude and bootleg jeans you're asking for trouble man.

Yes, because everyone who's been attacked has had a sissy attitude and bootleg jeans.

Foolish comment to make...

Scrappychimow

andyman wrote: »

Yes, because everyone who's been attacked has had a sissy attitude and bootleg jeans.

Foolish comment to make...

I think the first few words of this song should clarify the situation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgInoVbM77E

Everyone even in the local area knows that park is dodgy, I'm from the area and go to college in DCU and the park attracts all sorts of people from the surrounding areas of Finglasballymunevin.

Scrappychimow

I'm from the area but I go to college in TCD, anyway I wouldn't call it dodgy -well worse parks than that in Dublin... it may seem dodgy to people who have cotton wool in their ears and wear flare jeans ...

Scrappychimow

If you call that 'dodgy'.... what would you call a park with-
a gang of about 50 drinking at a bonfire armed with weapons
robbed cars flying around the park
Cars on fire in the park
ripped bootleg jeans scattered out all over the place?