In talking to our fellow employees who worked in Detroit they’d say, “No, it’s not dangerous. If you live here you know where not to be and when not to be there. Therefore it’s perfectly safe.” I’m guessing that she didn’t know when and where not to be. Frankly, I’m terrified of public transportation in big cities.
One of my coworkers picked up his rental car at Detroit’s airport. Apparently, he got off at the wrong exit. Never heard from again. So not only do you need to be situationally aware, but armed and you must have the knowledge of what, when and where is dangerous.
When I went exploring Seatle at night, the only time I had available on that assignment, I taped my name and next of kin to the bottom of my left foot.
My husband did the same thing many years ago while at a convention, do not remember the city. He was at a gas station. Police saw him and escorted him back to the freeway and explained this was a very dangerous area. So glad the police saw him.
I've really come to love my small (pop. 2000) town, though.