The Allegheny River Valley Trail creates a beautiful environment to get some exercise. Just be smart about it.

More than half of the 5.6-mile trail runs parallel to the river. Woods on the other side and curves in the asphalt path induce a sense of privacy.

But the trail lacks emergency-calling devices to cut through the seclusion for the lone, cellphone-less pedestrian.

According to reports, Olean, N.Y., houses 40 registered sex offenders. Crimes committed earned 17 of the 40 offenders a risk level of “3.”

New York State says “3” signifies high probability of a repeat offense and a threat to public safety. Six offenders –– levels 2 and 3 –– live within a 1.5-mile radius of where the trail leaves the woods behind and crosses onto West State Street.

A case in Buffalo featured attacks on a similar path.

In the early 1990s, Altemio Sanchez raped 14 women and killed two of them. Though he didn’t rape her, he murdered his third –– and final –– victim, Joan Diver, in 2006.

Diver had been jogging by herself in the morning.

Sanchez attacked her in broad daylight in an area far more urban than Olean.

Make sure an unnecessary attack doesn’t happen to you.

Carry your cellphone when using the path alone. Call your mom. Break the solitude.

Tell family and friends where you’ll be. Tell them when you expect to return.

Or, better yet, use your head.

Go with a friend.

Originally written for my opinion writing course at St. Bonaventure University.