Dealing in with a person you don't know is always risky IMO, you need to be careful in choosing the location to a public place with plenty of people and also try to do multiple small trades rather than a single big trade.
multiple small trades by meeting an individual would be the most risk and such a complicated thing to do,you need to afford for transportation or anything that's needed,single big trade would be the best option if you can have full security at that time when you're going to make a trade
But meeting an individual is safe but really it takes cost to do that. But that is the best option but in buying selling bitcoin it is the best when you are in escrow service because it is safe more safe than you are just talking and dealing with your client buyer or seller. Escrow service is the safest thing now to do.