I don't usually ride further south than Ball Rd./Taft Ave., but did yesterday for the first time in probably six weeks and was amazed by how many more tents have sprung up in that time span.
I don't personally try to view the homeless as a blight, because everyone has to live somewhere and there but for the grace of God, etc...but with my one feeble attempt at being pleasant (saying hello to one of them walking beside the trail) being met with a resounding "F*ck you", and then the one guy beating on his poor Pit Bull for whatever it had done to displease him, has left me disinclined to visit that particular stretch again anytime soon. It's not so much that I have fear of the area, it's just that I'm not interested in those kinds of interactions when I'm out to simply enjoy a ride.