To think this was dodgy

[scittlescatter]

Cycling home along a secluded footpath in a dodgy area of London. I saw two adults (man and woman) who looked rather shifty. They gave me a guilty look and said hello as I went past (odd to talk to strangers here).

I saw one of them had a pipe partially up his sleeve. Would this be a crack pipe? It was clear, so definitely not a tobacco pipe. What is is smoked with a pipe? Or what else could this be.

I realise I'm pretty naive. I'm just wondering if I should stop cycling this route. It's nice and peaceful and away from traffic though.

[Candle1000]

Sounds like drugs to me . I would always take a more public route if I were you.

[Wheat2Harvest]

I personally wouldn't cycle on a secluded footpath in a dodgy area of London. Yes, you should be able to do as you wish but the reality is that if it's that dodgy you are putting yourself in a vulnerable situation.

[LemonPrism]

It was probably just weed. Why does it matter? It's London

[scittlescatter]

Lemon, is weed smoked with a clear pipe? I see it smoked all the time, it's more popular than tobacco round here. It's always in a roll up, never a pipe. If it was cannabis then I would have recognised the rather strong smell.

[IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls]

Sounds like crack to me .

[IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls]

It wouldn't be weed

[Kallyderon]

Yeah, crack.

Incidentally I love the Mumsnet attitude to weed. "Oh, weed? Chill out it's fine". Vs cigarettes "Someone smoked a fag two streets away which triggered my allergic reaction plus I used to walk down that street with my son when he was a baby twenty years ago. When will these selfish cigarette smokers be jailed for the actual bodily harm they have done me?"

[scittlescatter]

Lol Kally. There is a lot of Mumsnet histeria often. Personally, I'm just curious. I don't think crack smokers would be interested in a woman in a bike. No drugs on me!

[carolina21]

So if they aren't interested in you what is the issue ? They didn't bother you ?

[Kallyderon]

Tbh I wouldn't want to be around people on crack just because it makes you irrational and also more likely to commit opportunistic crime for money. Including robbing people on bikes! Doubtless some dullard will be along telling me to "chill" though.

[scittlescatter]

Carolina I don't personally have an issue. I'm just curious what they are up to, and if it is something I should be avoiding

[Nancydrawn]

It certainly well could have been weed--plenty of people use small glass bowls (which often look like pipes of a sort).

That said, it's pretty irrelevant--if they made you uncomfortable, take a different route; if you feel fine, cycle on!

[CoachBombay]

Crack has a very synthetic burnt smell when it's been smoked. You can smell it.

But yes probably smoking crack, probably best to avoid the area.

[BatShite]

Incidentally I love the Mumsnet attitude to weed. "Oh, weed? Chill out it's fine". Vs cigarettes "Someone smoked a fag two streets away which triggered my allergic reaction plus I used to walk down that street with my son when he was a baby twenty years ago. When will these selfish cigarette smokers be jailed for the actual bodily harm they have done me?"

[ILearnedItFromABook]

Drug addicts are more likely to be desperate for money, therefore more likely to rob you if the opportunity presents itself. If the area truly is dodgy, I'd avoid it or at least avoid the more secluded spots.

[expat101]

Stay away from there. It does really bad stuff to their way of thinking and to avoid a physical confrontation. There is no reasoning with them while they are on the shite and eventually, as their need grows, they will become desperate.

Your bike, for instance, might be worth another hit to them and they will do whatever they can to take it from you.

our neighbour's daughter is addicted and she is a complete mess.

[Pixxie7]

Absolute rubbish. Cigarettes would not cause someone else to have an allergic reaction.
Both drugs and tobacco are addictive I know which I would prefer. Cigarettes providing the smoker is considerate, only harm the smoker. Whilst drugs harm society as a whole.

[MrJollyLivesNextDoor]

Weed stinks, if you didn't get a horrible sweet/shit smell then it wasn't weed.

I'd avoid if I were you. It's drugs of some kind.
Your bike and handbag will be of interest at some point

[AllTheNameAreTakenEvenThisOne]

Yes it's most likely crack. Could be meth I guess.

Spice is also smoked, isn't it - but I'm not sure how?

Less usual things it could be - hash oil, morphine, more obscure drugs.

Most probably crack though. If your route is a regular haunt of crack heads, then yes, I'd avoid it. Crack can make people desperate and volatile.

[AllTheNameAreTakenEvenThisOne]

YY to your bike being of "interest" to crack heads.

[AllTheNameAreTakenEvenThisOne]

The crack heads who I used to live near would try to get your phone off you, by asking politely to use it and offering a pound for a call. If you handed it over they'd rob it. (I never did, thankfully).

Others would aggressively beg. I had my phone robbed while I was using it once (but not sure if they were crack heads or just little shits tbh).

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

Pixxie - it was a joke.

[AllTheNameAreTakenEvenThisOne]

Crack also makes dangerous men more dangerous and impulsive.

As a woman on my own, I'd avoid travelling through a place where crack is taken.

[AllTheNameAreTakenEvenThisOne]

Probably it'd be fine! I lived near a place crack was sold for years, and I haven't got loads of tales of woe. But I know to be wary. Crack is a nasty drug.

[BadSun]

I don't think crack smokers would be interested in a woman in a bike. No drugs on me!

Probably not the woman on the bike, but probably yes the bike. And her purse.