Tips on Cleveland Warnings or Dangers – Stay Safe!

Cleveland Warnings and Dangers

A fun Midwestern city with beaches, a strong arts scene, and entertaining sports, there’s no doubt that “Cleveland Rocks!” But if you’re thinking about visiting Cleveland, make sure to avoid certain areas and keep these common sense safety tips in mind.

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Be Careful in East and Cleveland

East Cleveland isn’t usually a part of town tourists go to, but sometimes they accidentally end up there when they’re looking for popular nearby places like Little Italy. If you’re driving, try not to end up East of Scoval and 55th. If you find yourself in East Cleveland, it’s safest to drive through without parking or stopping. If you need to go to this neighborhood, avoid having anything valuable in your car or on your person. Most of the crime in this area involves stealing valuables.

Use Street Smarts in Midtown Cleveland

Much of the crime takes place in Midtown, so use common sense and take safety precautions if you’re in this area, especially at night. If you don’t need to go to Midtown and are driving, you can avoid the area altogether by taking I-90 to University Circle from downtown.

Be Aware and Look Out For the Homeless Population After Dark

During the day, Downtown Cleveland is completely safe, but after dark you’ll want to be more careful. The downtown area gets very quiet after dark, once Downtown workers leave work. The Downtown trolleys also stop running after 7 p.m., so you’ll need to take a cab or drive. If you’re walking, walk quickly and stay aware of your surroundings.

Cleveland has a high homeless population, and there’s more homeless around after dark, especially in Public Square. The vast majority of the homeless are harmless, but will panhandle and ask you for money. Sometimes they can be pushy and aggressive. You can avoid difficulty by not interacting with the homeless and walking quickly past.

Take Extra Care During Game Day

With professional football and baseball stadiums in the Downtown area, you’ll want to take extra care from the increased traffic. Drivers drive aggressively when they enter and leave the game, often not paying attention to pedestrians. Stay on sidewalks and take care as a pedestrian during game night.

Use Precautions When Parking and Driving in Cleveland

Most of the crime that takes place in Cleveland is property crime. If you’re driving a car, take advantage of the valet parking many hotels and businesses offer, or park in a patrolled lot. In higher crime areas like East Cleveland and Trenton, avoid parking your car overnight.

Take extra care when driving in the winter, especially when it’s snowy or icy, since roads can be slippery.

When you’re driving, pay attention to speed limit signs. Much of Cleveland has slow speed limits of 25-35 mph, and the police will often speed trap these areas.

More from SmarterTravel:

• Adventure in Cleveland
• Cleveland’s Food Scene
• A Quiet Escape in Cleveland

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Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about areas to avoid in Cleveland.