Is Roebuck Terrace safe?
Birmingham, Alabama · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Roebuck Terrace as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Roebuck Terrace
“Go with care. Roebuck Terrace is a quiet residential pocket in East Birmingham, but it borders busier commercial corridors with elevated property crime and occasional violent incidents. Visitors should remain aware of their surroundings, keep vehicles locked, and stick to residential daytime travel.”
Local police continue routine patrols targeting property crime and retail theft along the nearby Parkway East and Roebuck shopping corridors.
About the area
Roebuck Terrace is a mid-20th-century suburban-style neighborhood in northeast Birmingham characterized by modest single-family ranch homes and tree-lined streets. While largely quiet within its residential interior, it sits adjacent to major commercial arteries like Parkway East where retail and traffic concentrate.
- Car-Dependent
- Suburban / Residential
- Quiet Streets
- Working-Class
Walking and biking in Roebuck Terrace
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 31/100
There is no local bike-share program or dedicated bike lane infrastructure in the neighborhood, and connections to Birmingham's Red Rock Trail System require navigating high-speed arterial roads.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Primarily owner-occupied residential streets with minimal through-traffic
- Affordable access to nearby major commuter corridors like I-59 and US-11
- Close proximity to public parks and golf amenities in adjacent Roebuck Springs
Cons
- Property crime and vehicle break-in rates above the national average
- Commercial borders along Parkway East experience higher rates of opportunistic crime
- Limited walkability with low sidewalk coverage throughout the residential grid
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal on interior residential streets, but occasional unhoused individuals and panhandling can be observed near intersections and strip plazas along Parkway East.
What Roebuck Terrace is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm as residents commute, making it safe for morning dog walks or jogging on residential streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Generally quiet residential traffic with low safety concerns inside the neighborhood proper.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity winds down quickly at dusk; residential streets remain quiet, though caution is advised along main retail corridors.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets are dimly lit and desolate; pedestrian travel is not recommended due to increased risk of isolated property or street crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA / MAX Transit), with local bus Route 25 serving nearby Parkway East, though headways are long and service is limited.
Street parking is free and readily available in front of homes, and commercial strip centers along the perimeter offer ample free surface parking lots.
Things to do in Roebuck Terrace
- Play a round of golf at the historic Roebuck Golf Course nearby
- Enjoy outdoor leisure and sports courts at Don Hawkins Recreation Center
- Explore dining and everyday shopping along the adjacent Parkway East corridor
Local favorites
- Roebuck Golf Course · Public Golf Course · 4.2★ (320)A historic, municipal 18-hole golf course locally cherished as 'Roebuck Hawkins'.
- Milo's Hamburgers · Fast Food Restaurant · 4.3★ (850)Classic Alabama fast-food chain known for seasoned burgers, tenders, and sweet tea.
- Green Acres Roebuck · Southern / Soul Food · 4.1★ (410)Popular local counter-serve spot famous for lemon-pepper fried chicken and fish.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.