That seems to be  a common question from people who have never ridden in Detroit: “Do you have a gun?”  There are some areas in Detroit that are really scary, I agree.  And I never ride there either.  There are too many sites to see in the city to let fear steer me away.  Be smart, keep your eyes open, know where NOT to go, keep your prejudices at home and ride.  If you still need that safety net, ride with a group.  Nobody will ever mess with a group of riders.  When it comes to drivers, Detroit is the most pleasant place to ride in the area in my opinion.  It seems like the suburban soccer moms and the overworked dads are more revved up and rushed than the Detroiters.