Jackson Heights Life

It's very safe.  Roosevelt Ave. is not a place I'd hang out late at night or walk along because I find it too noisy but 37th Avenue is fine. Same for 35th and 34th Avenues.  You can park your car and walk without fear.  Once you get to know the neighborhood you'll feel more comfortable.  Take the spot until you find something else closer for convenience sake but don't worry about the walk for safety... you'll be fine.

I agree that its very safe.  I live in your same area and used to walk home from the subway at Roosevelt often by myself pretty frequently late in the evenings.  I never experienced much more than the occasional cat call.   We also used to park our car behind a house on 70th st and I would walk home from there on my own when I was using the car.  Once I got to know the neighborhood, I felt very comfortable making these trips, especially because you''ll find that lots of people are out walking around.  Now I have a kid so there aren't so many late nights for me anymore but on the occasional night out, I never have a second thought about coming home on my own.

I'm not a woman in my twenties, so I can't speak specifically to your particular situation, but in over a year of living in JH, I've never felt unsafe on the streets at any hour, however late.  It's worrisome when places are deserted, but it seems that there are always a few people out walking at all hours, so that would seem to lend some degree of safety.

A few years ago I saw a guy jump into a running TLC car that was at the BP gas station on Northern and 68th and drive away with the owner of the car running after him.  Naturally, the car was faster.  Ever since then, I take my keys out of the ignition when I pump gas etc. 

There is always some crime in any neighborhood and I agree with eddiestjohns about being careful when you're alone in a back alley late at night.  But that's true of anywhere.  Late at night, you should be aware of your surroundings, rachel.  But I think you'll feel fine once you become familiar with your new neighborhood.  I've never felt unsafe in 20 years living here and I walk my dog sometimes 11pm at night.  I've had friends take the train coming and going after midnight and they never felt unsafe. 

I too am a woman in my twenties. I have never felt unsafe but take the same precautions I do in any other neighborhood that empties out late at night -- I stay aware of my surroundings, always know where my cell phone is, etc. I also notice cops walking around the neighborhood at all hours, which is very reassuring.  I agree, though, that Roosevelt Avenue is not somewhere I'd want to hang out at night.

The one time I had to call the cops (some drunk teenagers outside of my window who were being noisey at 3am), they were there within a few minutes. Good to know.

True, broad, but I guess I was thinking more in terms of types of establishments on Roosevelt that are open late at night and the types of clientele said establishments attract as reasons I wouldn't want to hang out there at 2am for a longer period of time than just walking through.  But you're right, there are lots of people there all the time and I would definitely head in that direction if I felt threatened or unsafe on 37th.

Welcome to the neighborhood!  I sometimes walk home from friends or the subway as late as 2 or 3 am and think it's pretty safe.  In fact, I think the few other people I pass are more suspicious of me being out on the streets so late rather me being worried about them!  As others have noted, just be aware of your surroundings and walk purposefully.  I keep my cell phone in my hand and figure I could pretend to be talking to someone if I see someone who makes me nervous.  I might be concerned about parking in an alley late at night just because, but walking home from there shouldn't be a problem.