Neighborhoods in Dublin

lkono

I'll be moving to Dublin this summer from Washington DC to attend a program at Trinity. I'm hoping I can find some help choosing a neighborhood.

I've been told several times that I should look south of the river. Is this something I should take very seriously, or is it more advice meant for people who haven't lived in a city before? I currently live in Northeast DC - a bit of a rough neighborhood in a large city. I also have spent a few years living in a developing area of Shanghai. I want to live where there are young people and plenty of dense, urban life, but I don't want to live somewhere that it so safe it's suburban (if anyone is familiar with the DC area, I don't want to live in say, the Arlington of Dublin, even though many newcomers to DC are told to live there).

Ideally, I'd like to live in an up-and-coming neighborhood within biking distance of Trinity that has a large population of young professionals.

I've been digging around on daft.ie and a few message boards and based on that am leaning towards Portobello and Stoneybatter - does that make sense at all?

BeerNut

Sounds about right. You can cast your net a bit wider than Portobello and include the South Circular Road and Rathmines as well. Likewise, Smithfield is next to Stoneybatter and is probably worth checking.

And yeah: if you know how to live in a city you'll be fine anywhere in central Dublin.

I am pie

lkono wrote: »

I'll be moving to Dublin this summer from Washington DC to attend a program at Trinity. I'm hoping I can find some help choosing a neighborhood.

I've been told several times that I should look south of the river. Is this something I should take very seriously, or is it more advice meant for people who haven't lived in a city before? I currently live in Northeast DC - a bit of a rough neighborhood in a large city. I also have spent a few years living in a developing area of Shanghai. I want to live where there are young people and plenty of dense, urban life, but I don't want to live somewhere that it so safe it's suburban (if anyone is familiar with the DC area, I don't want to live in say, the Arlington of Dublin, even though many newcomers to DC are told to live there).

Ideally, I'd like to live in an up-and-coming neighborhood within biking distance of Trinity that has a large population of young professionals.

I've been digging around on daft.ie and a few message boards and based on that am leaning towards Portobello and Stoneybatter - does that make sense at all?

Smithfield might work for you too. Rathmines has a large student population also.

bearhugs

I'm not very familiar with Stoneybatter, but Portobello is fab, loved it there when I lived in Dublin. Some great pubs along the canal. Or Rathmines/Ranelagh, although could be a little dearer and maybe not as urban? Fairview and Clontarf are nice too, and Smithfield. Best of luck wherever you end up anyway, I'm sure you'll have a ball!

John Mason

Stoneybatter is the way to go.
it has a great village vibe and is walkable to trinty

redcortina

If you have lived in DC before, Dublin will be no trouble for you at all. But I would suggest as above, Rathmines, Ranelagh area, Its very nice with reasonable student prices.

Rhand

Everything in Dublin 1 and 2 is fine.

Piliger

Ranelagh and Rathmines for students, young people, night life, neighbourhood atmosphere. I just moved here and it is brilliant.
Ranelagh is a 6 minute tram ride to the centre of town, where TCD is (My alma mater as you guys say) Also my son rides to a school near TCD in 8 minutes he tells me.

Will I Amnt

They're called neighbourhoods round these here parts :cool:

Richard Hillman

Keep away from the west of Dublin. The northside of Dublin is grand along the dart (train) line apart from Kilbarrack. The South-East side of Dublin is where you wanna be. Ballyogan is the only place in South-East dublin you should avoid and thats a small area. 2 minutes down the road from the place in any direction is grand.

The Dart line and the N11 road are in general the best and safest places in Dublin to live.

JuliusCaesar

Dublin is small and very mixed, so that there can be a council estate down one street and very expensive houses in the next.

Here's a map of Dublin's postal districts. Mostly even numbers are southside, and odd numbers are northside. Dublin 2, 4, 6, 8 are mostly fine (with little pockets of less ok), 1, 3, 7, have maybe larger pockets of less-okayness. Generally you'll know them when you see them!

Stay in a hostel/hotel for the first week or so till you find your feet. Any of those postal areas will have you in TCD by bike in 20mins or less.

kingofkong

OP I'd recommend Sandymount, its right on the coast which is nice, has rapid rail access to TCD or you can walk it in about 20-30 minutes, very safe

PeterTwo

I go to TCD and have lived in Rathmines and Pearse St. Pearse St is very close to college, i.e in the city centre, but there's not much going on there. Rathmines is further out but there's a better scene. Ranelagh is a good shout and is quite close to campus, although a lot of students will have moved home for the summer.
Personally, I'd try and get something in the heart of the city, off Grafton St preferably. I have friends living on South William St which is a really nice area with lots of amenities and you could probably get some kind of summer sublease.

Tusky

Any of these would suit: Rathmines, Ranelagh, Portabello, Ringsend, Drumcondra, Stoneybatter, Smithfield and even Glasnevin (the city centre side preferably). It's not necessary to stay North of the river but the areas directly beside the city centre are nicer on the South side. If you can get somewhere in city centre; Camden Street area is great and Pearse Street is very central. I would avoid Gardiner Street and Mountjoy Square.

Adhamh

Relax OP, some people act as if the North or West sides of Dublin are like downtown Caracas. I understand what sort of place you're looking for- most of the above posters don't seem to.

One thing about Dublin is that although it's well over a million people, it's very dispersed. Hence it can be a pain getting around and is mostly kinda dull. Ranelagh is little more than a single built up street. Stay between the canals, that's where the action is. It's true that a lot of students live in Rathmines but there's noting really there and it's not very built up or lively compared to somewhere more like Smithfiled.

lkono

Thank you all so much for these responses! I'm excited to start shifting through them this evening.

As someone mentioned, I'm planning on arriving a bit early. I've budgeted for about two weeks in a hostel, and will be arriving around July 18th hoping to find somewhere with an August 1st lease. That seemed reasonable to me.

I'm just so grateful to hear all of the suggestions. Everyone has been telling me Rathmines/Ranelagh, which I'm sure are great, but I knew they couldn't be the only options!

JuliusCaesar

Adhamh wrote: »

One thing about Dublin is that although it's well over a million people, it's very dispersed. Hence it can be a pain getting around and is mostly kinda dull.

Between the canals (and a bit outside them, like Rathmines/Ranelagh) is compact enough. I rarely find myself in the suburbs.

Adhamh wrote: »

Ranelagh is little more than a single built up street.

A long street of cafes and restaurants and more cafes....

Adhamh wrote: »

It's true that a lot of students live in Rathmines but there's noting really there and it's not very built up or lively compared to somewhere more like Smithfiled.

:eek: There are a lot of young people living there, not just students and there are a lot of amenities: pubs, clubs, restaurants, public swimming pool & gym, library, shopping centre...AND it's a leafy area with lots of parks, so very pleasant looking surroundings. Smithfield on the other hand is a rough enough area.

CucaFace

lkono wrote: »

Thank you all so much for these responses! I'm excited to start shifting through them this evening.

As someone mentioned, I'm planning on arriving a bit early. I've budgeted for about two weeks in a hostel, and will be arriving around July 18th hoping to find somewhere with an August 1st lease. That seemed reasonable to me.

I'm just so grateful to hear all of the suggestions. Everyone has been telling me Rathmines/Ranelagh, which I'm sure are great, but I knew they couldn't be the only options!

How much of a budget are you looking at spending per month?

Rent in all these area's can differ greatly.

lkono

CucaFace wrote: »

How much of a budget are you looking at spending per month?

Rent in all these area's can differ greatly.

Of course the cheaper the better! I'd like to stay below €700/month, and it seems like that could work out based on my daft.ie searches (for preferably a one bedroom, although a well-appointed studio would be fine as well). That would still be significantly cheaper than a DC rental, though, so I'm willing to have some flexibility.

PeterTwo

lkono wrote: »

Of course the cheaper the better! I'd like to stay below €700/month, and it seems like that could work out based on my daft.ie searches (for preferably a one bedroom, although a well-appointed studio would be fine as well). That would still be significantly cheaper than a DC rental, though, so I'm willing to have some flexibility.

If you're willing to sublet in a 3+ bedroom apartment, you'll get a really nice place for that price.

garancafan

cambo2008 wrote: »

They're called neighbourhoods round these here parts :cool:

We acknowledge differences in spelling around here.

Will I Amnt

garancafan wrote: »

We acknowledge differences in spelling around here.

Untwist your knickers it was in good humor...........eh!!......see what I did there?

mikemac1

Buy a 50cc scooter when you get here and get your license, tax and insurance sorted
It's not that much and just perfect for a student

Brilliant for getting around


And come over to the American football forum
Nobody supports the Redskins because they are ****e
Would be good to get a fan

P. Breathnach

Rhand wrote: »

Everything in Dublin 1 and 2 is fine.

I wouldn't go that far!

Piliger

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

<Ranelagh>A long street of cafes and restaurants and more cafes....

This is simply not true. I moved here last month and the main street is a wonderful selection of wine bars, several excellent pubs, coffee shops, shopping, dentists and doctors and a couple of nice parks within a short walk. It is a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Rathmines is similar but louder and more commercial, but also with a great and eclectic mix.

:eek: <Rathmines> There are a lot of young people living there, not just students and there are a lot of amenities: pubs, clubs, restaurants, public swimming pool & gym, library, shopping centre

I agree. Both Ranelagh and Rathmines are major young people areas, and not just students.

...AND it's a leafy area with lots of parks, so very pleasant looking surroundings. Smithfield on the other hand is a rough enough area.

I really wouldn't call Rathmines a leafy area. A bit rougher round the edges than Ranelagh (NOT crime wise).

I would give the edge to Ranelagh because of the LUAS tram line and it's less commercial and more relaxed atmosphere myself. More of a village kind of place.

Piliger

mikemac1 wrote: »

Buy a 50cc scooter when you get here and get your license, tax and insurance sorted
It's not that much and just perfect for a student

Brilliant for getting around

The guy presumably wants to live to get home and see his family again !

guitarzero

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Keep away from the west of Dublin. The northside of Dublin is grand along the dart (train) line apart from Kilbarrack. The South-East side of Dublin is where you wanna be. Ballyogan is the only place in South-East dublin you should avoid and thats a small area. 2 minutes down the road from the place in any direction is grand.

The Dart line and the N11 road are in general the best and safest places in Dublin to live.

Richard, next toim oi' see you round deez parts oim gona knock yer bleedin' head off ye BLEEEEEDIN' plank yeh!

Seriously though, you sound like a right Hillman (trust me, it will catch on if you continue to make posts like that )

mikemac1

Piliger wrote: »

The guy presumably wants to live to get home and see his family again !

You have a helmet and gear, no more dangerous then cycling

dsmythy

90% sound advice on this thread for you. If you've lived in a rougher section of DC then 90% of Dublin will be like a giant puppy dog to you.

Piliger

dsmythy wrote: »

90% sound advice on this thread for you. If you've lived in a rougher section of DC then 90% of Dublin will be like a giant puppy dog to you.

Indeed. Add to that no guns (infinitesimal compared to the USA) and completely unarmed police

bassey

Phibsboro might also be worth a look. Easy cycle to Trinity, loads of busses, loads of pubs and best of all Bohemians Football Club situated right in the heart of it

lkono

Thank you all for humouring me and keeping me out of the boring neighbourhoods! I really can't say enough how helpful this forum is.

It's good to know that I can cast my search much wider than I was originally led to believe. One thing that worried me about Rathmines/Ranelagh is that it sounds as though it's all students. I've been out of college for a few years and am going back now for a higher degree, so I don't necessarily need to just be surrounded by undergrads. This doesn't mean I won't look there, I just wanted to know some other options.

Is there any particular reason to avoid Gardiner Street and Mountjoy Square?

I think I'll pass on the scooter. A bike suits me just fine. And I'm not really the best Redskins supporter -- but the Nats and DC United are a different story.

Does anyone have any thoughts on The Liberties/The Coombe? (Are those even neighborhoods? Or just inventions of Google Maps?)

One more question - I'm fairly involved with the local community groups in my current neighborhood, and with DC in general (particularly bike-advocacy groups and the local arts scene). A lot of the local news is hosted on neighborhood blogs, like http://www.princeofpetworth.com and http://dcist.com/. Those are incredibly helpful for me as a resident, and I would recommend them to any newcomer to get a sense of the area. Are there any neighborhood micro-blogs in Dublin?

CiaranC

lkono wrote: »

Thank you all for humouring me and keeping me out of the boring neighbourhoods! I really can't say enough how helpful this forum is.

It's good to know that I can cast my search much wider than I was originally led to believe. One thing that worried me about Rathmines/Ranelagh is that it sounds as though it's all students. I've been out of college for a few years and am going back now for a higher degree, so I don't necessarily need to just be surrounded by undergrads. This doesn't mean I won't look there, I just wanted to know some other options.

Dublin 6 (Ranelagh/Rathmines) is not all students by any mean, it just has a bit of a student/ethnic/bohemian feel.

Is there any particular reason to avoid Gardiner Street and Mountjoy Square?

I have never lived on the northside, people here complain that a lot of addiction centres are located there which brings the inevitable social problems.

I think I'll pass on the scooter. A bike suits me just fine. And I'm not really the best Redskins supporter -- but the Nats and DC United are a different story.

If you like your football D6 is "traditionally" a Shamrock Rovers area, but the closest senior southside club is St Patricks Athletic. On the northside (Dublin3 and Dubliin 7), you have Shelbourne FC and Bohemian FC.

http://www.shamrockrovers.ie
http://www.stpatsfc.ie
http://www.shelbournefc.ie
http://www.bohemians.ie/

Does anyone have any thoughts on The Liberties/The Coombe? (Are those even neighborhoods? Or just inventions of Google Maps?)

These are areas, really old traditional heartlands of Dublin - especially the Liberties, which is a bustling working class area and a favourite of many on here. Rents are quite a bit cheaper here than D6.

Marcusm

Rathm

Marcusm

Rathmines is prob 20% students max and Ranelagh half that again. Much more 25 and up and plenty much older. It's been mid 90s since either of those areas had a significant student population.

Beware many of the conversion flats (generally Victorian era) can be poor; you really need to inspect before committing. The Lowe agency in Rathmines will have a good selection and some forward perspective on future vacancies.

OP ignore the whole Northside/Southside thing. There's a trend in terms of wealth but it's by no means representative of the two areas in their entirety. There are plenty of posh places on the Northside and plenty of rough places on the Southside. It's a bad rule of thumb to be given.

That said, the areas you have in mind sound fine, and I'd know quite a few Trinity students in the D6 area.

I live on the Harolds Cross road near Terenure, I love it. 10 minute walk from Rathmines, 5 minutes from Terenure. Good bus routes (16, 16A and 49) to the city, 83 and 18 just around the corner. The only thing is there's no decent beer gardens nearby :pac:

I've lived in Ranelagh twice before and found it to be a really lovely place, but a little over priced, because if you just feel like nipping out for a microwave dinner and pint of milk you're stuck with Spar and Centra-soon-to-become-Spar. At least in Rathmines you have a choice of four supermarkets.

iguana

Deleted User wrote: »

I've lived in Ranelagh twice before and found it to be a really lovely place, but a little over priced, because if you just feel like nipping out for a microwave dinner and pint of milk you're stuck with Spar and Centra-soon-to-become-Spar. At least in Rathmines you have a choice of four supermarkets.

Unless you are an old granny it takes about 10 minutes to walk between Ranelagh and Rathmines.

Piliger

iguana wrote: »

Unless you are an old granny it takes about 10 minutes to walk between Ranelagh and Rathmines.

Even less. I timed it as 8.5 mins when I loved here a month ago.

I would DEFinitely avoid Gardner street btw. Very dodgy and I would consider Mountjoy square to be borderline.

Harolds cross is fine but difficult to find anything. Same prices as Ranelagh.

The Coombe is around Dolphin's Barn and is what I would call borderline.

ciaran_h

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

Dublin is small and very mixed, so that there can be a council estate down one street and very expensive houses in the next.

Here's a map of Dublin's postal districts. Mostly even numbers are southside, and odd numbers are northside. Dublin 2, 4, 6, 8 are mostly fine (with little pockets of less ok), 1, 3, 7, have maybe larger pockets of less-okayness. Generally you'll know them when you see them!

Stay in a hostel/hotel for the first week or so till you find your feet. Any of those postal areas will have you in TCD by bike in 20mins or less.

Dublin 8is not in same category as 4 or 6

ciaran_h

ciaran_h wrote: »

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

Dublin is small and very mixed, so that there can be a council estate down one street and very expensive houses in the next.

Here's a map of Dublin's postal districts. Mostly even numbers are southside, and odd numbers are northside. Dublin 2, 4, 6, 8 are mostly fine (with little pockets of less ok), 1, 3, 7, have maybe larger pockets of less-okayness. Generally you'll know them when you see them!

Stay in a hostel/hotel for the first week or so till you find your feet. Any of those postal areas will have you in TCD by bike in 20mins or less.

Dublin 8is not in same category as 4 or 6

Borderline???...liberties / coombe prob fits ur bill...central, reasonable cheap....def not boring

Camac Hibs

From what you say you are looking forand your interests I would suggest firstly Stoneybatter/Smithfield area and secondly The Liberties and possibly Portobello.

Rathmines and Ranelagh are being talked up a lot here. Rathmines is okay and a fairly broad mix of people I suppose, Ranelagh is overpriced and boring, would not recommend anyone coming to the city to bother living there.

I would definitely suggest moving to one of the neighbourhoods between the canals.

flo_indublin

Regarding the Liberties, here's a local paper published by DIT (Dublin Institute of Technology) journalism students: http://www.theliberty.ie/

I live there and it's a very nice neighbourhood, working class yes but also a bit bohemian and I'm sure a few students live there because it's cheap. The National College of Arts and Design is in Thomas Street. There are a couple of nice coffee shops but as regards pubs you wouldn't probably want to socialize there! :-) But that's no problem as it's 10 minutes walk to the very centre of town and town is your oyster ;-)

P. Breathnach

Piliger wrote: »

Even less. I timed it as 8.5 mins when I loved here a month ago...

You move faster when motivated by love.

P. Breathnach

flo_indublin wrote: »

Regarding the Liberties, here's a local paper published by DIT (Dublin Institute of Technology) journalism students: http://www.theliberty.ie/

I live there and it's a very nice neighbourhood, working class yes but also a bit bohemian and I'm sure a few students live there because it's cheap. The National College of Arts and Design is in Thomas Street. There are a couple of nice coffee shops but as regards pubs you wouldn't probably want to socialize there! :-) But that's no problem as it's 10 minutes walk to the very centre of town and town is your oyster ;-)

You're giving a mixed message, but presenting it as if it were not. If you wouldn't want to socialise in the neighbourhood pubs, then the message is that you are not comfortable with your neighbours.

Some Dublin neighbourhoods are tricky to understand, and that includes the Liberties area. One street might be great for somebody like OP, and the next street might be pretty well a no-go area. And the same consideration applies to routes to get home: one route might be very safe, whereas what seems a reasonable alternative might involve encountering some very dodgy people - most typically in Dublin, junkies desperate for the price of their next fix.

catch--22

I've lived in Ranelagh and Stoneybatter in recent years (now living East Wall) and would give a strong thumbs up to both.

But to pick one it would be Stoneybatter. A great mix of working class Dublin, students, young professionals. It also has one of the best pints of Guinness in Dublin thanks to Walshes bar - and really that’s one of the most important things!

Good luck with the move OP

Toby Take a Bow

lkono wrote: »

Does anyone have any thoughts on The Liberties/The Coombe? (Are those even neighborhoods? Or just inventions of Google Maps?)

They are indeed proper areas! Although The Coombe would fit into The Liberties. And The Coombe would be my favourite place in Dublin. I've lived in different areas (mainly D2, around Pearse Street) and would always, always try and live in The Coombe and the surrounding areas. It seems to really fit with what you're looking for in Dublin: urban, lots of interesting places to see things and do things and definitely within biking distance of Trinity (10 minutes or thereabouts). Anywhere from Thomas Street to the canal would be great, although rents aren't as cheap as some people seem to think (D8 was remarkably resistant to falling rent prices).

Poster Boy

Tusky wrote: »

I would avoid Gardiner Street and Mountjoy Square.

Why avoid Mountjoy Square? It is definitive of "an up and coming area within biking distance of Trinity", as desired by the OP.

For the OPs information, Mountjoy Square is one of Dublin's 4 Georgian Squares, which is seriously improved over the last 20 years having previously had 1/3 of its buildings demolished. The apartments in the new buildings are not particularly huge, but are reasonably priced and could suit someone attending TCD.

Mountjoy Square is well served by Dublin Bus route 7, which connects the Square to Trinity via O'Connell Street, and then passes on out along the south coast road. There is also a Dublin Bikes rental bicycle station on Mountjoy Square, which makes it ideal if the OP wishes to cycle to TCD, outside of which there are also bike stations.

The square has a police station adjacent on Fitzgibbon Street, where there continues to be a 24 hour 7 day a week presence, and statistically according to the CSO, Mountjoy Square has one of the lowest burglary rates in the country.

Last year ugly coach parking was removed from around the square, leaving the park open and pleasant; this year the council have zoned the square as an architectural conservation area.

The area is not particularly posh - more boho than yuppie, but thats part of its charm. Its also got rakes of historic and cultural links, including connections to Yeats, Arthur Guinness, Patrick Pearse, OCasey, Joyce as well as having been where much of the Oscar winning film Once was made - more info here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountjoy_Square

Sorry if Ive gone on - Im just a bit surprised to see a Dublin place be misrepresented in a way that I would have thought was contrary to this forums charter.

Draupnir

Poster Boy wrote: »

Why avoid Mountjoy Square? It is definitive of "an up and coming area within biking distance of Trinity", as desired by the OP.

For the OPs information, Mountjoy Square is one of Dublin's 4 Georgian Squares, which is seriously improved over the last 20 years having previously had 1/3 of its buildings demolished. The apartments in the new buildings are not particularly huge, but are reasonably priced and could suit someone attending TCD.

Mountjoy Square is well served by Dublin Bus route 7, which connects the Square to Trinity via O'Connell Street, and then passes on out along the south coast road. There is also a Dublin Bikes rental bicycle station on Mountjoy Square, which makes it ideal if the OP wishes to cycle to TCD, outside of which there are also bike stations.

The square has a police station adjacent on Fitzgibbon Street, where there continues to be a 24 hour 7 day a week presence, and statistically according to the CSO, Mountjoy Square has one of the lowest burglary rates in the country.

Last year ugly coach parking was removed from around the square, leaving the park open and pleasant; this year the council have zoned the square as an architectural conservation area.

The area is not particularly posh - more boho than yuppie, but thats part of its charm. Its also got rakes of historic and cultural links, including connections to Yeats, Arthur Guinness, Patrick Pearse, OCasey, Joyce as well as having been where much of the Oscar winning film Once was made - more info here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountjoy_Square

Sorry if Ive gone on - Im just a bit surprised to see a Dublin place be misrepresented in a way that I would have thought was contrary to this forums charter.

It's not misrepresentation to say that Mountjoy Square gets some very unsavoury foot traffic from adjoining areas at all times of the day, particularly after dark. Living in Mountjoy Square would also require you to make your way through some of the roughest places in Dublin City Centre to get to TCD or the City Centre proper.

Mountjoy Square on it's own is a lovely place, if a little disused in spots, but it's unfortunately surrounded by the kind of areas and people that are best avoided if possible.

To the OP, I'd recommend Smithfield, Stoneybatter, Kilmainham along the LUAS line or Ranelagh. Any and all of those pretty much tick every box you've posted.

Ernest

Rhand wrote: »

Everything in Dublin 1 and 2 is fine.

You must be joking!
Dublin 1 is the area around O'Connell St, Parnell Street, Talbot Street, Gardener Street, Sheriff Street and the notorious boardwalks near the River Liffey.
This is where the junkies hang out and is NOT where you would want to be living (given the lack of law enforcement in Dublin)

Dublin 2 incorporates the area just south of the River Liffey and includes Tara Street, York Street, Pearse Street, Temple Bar as well as the nicer parts near Grafton Street, St Stephens Green and Merrion Square. Like most parts of Dublin its a Mixed area. Be Cautious.

CiaranC

Ernest wrote: »

You must be joking!
Dublin 1 is the area around O'Connell St, Parnell Street, Talbot Street, Gardener Street, Sheriff Street and the notorious boardwalks near the River Liffey.
This is where the junkies hang out and is NOT where you would want to be living (given the lack of law enforcement in Dublin)

Dublin 2 incorporates the area just south of the River Liffey and includes Tara Street, York Street, Pearse Street, Temple Bar as well as the nicer parts near Grafton Street, St Stephens Green and Merrion Square. Like most parts of Dublin its a Mixed area. Be Cautious.

The OP is a citizen of Washington DC, and consequently is not afraid of his own shadow or a few shuffling tracksuited zombies. I think he'll be ok.