Would you walk through a park in the dark?

[IntoTheWilderness]

I’ve just been out with the dog, I usually like taking her before it gets dark so she can have a good run. I was late going today, left about 5ish so it wasn’t late but was dark.

I got to the park, felt really uneasy so turned back and walked her round the road along the outside of the park.

I felt a bit ridiculous because I wasn’t on my own as such, I had the dog and she gets anxious in the dark so would warn off anyone that came near me. Just wondered in anyone else would feel the same as a female walking alone or if I was being a bit cautious.

I'd feel and do exactly the same

I don't think I would even with the dog.

No I wouldn’t.

Depends on the park.

Same here. There’s a park on my walk to work and I go around it if it’s dark. It’s a small, quiet park but I still feel uneasy so I detour. It’s shit, isn’t it, that we have to police our own behaviour in this way?

I live very rurally and walk the dog through woods in the dark without a second thought. I might feel differently if I lived in more built up areas but I’ve always enjoyed being on my own and being out in the dark! Dog is a staffie cross which probably helps too!

No I wouldn't. In fact if the park was very quiet I'd feel uneasy walking through it alone in daylight.

As an 18 year old (20 ish years or so ago), I used to not bat an eyelid doing it on the way home from a night out. Now I wouldn’t dream of it!

No there have been far too many rapes, stabbings and murders in my local parks and that's just in the last couple of years.

Used to go running at either 6am or 10 pm in the dark with ddog. Never gave danger a second thought tbh..
Bought dd an alarm for her running as she has no ddog!!

Depends on the park! Some yes, others I wouldn't dream of it!

I've done it before but it was quite unnerving.

I've also, as a young teen, camped in a basic tent in a few different parks.

I don't recommend it.

It depends on how open it is. We back onto parkland and I'm happy there in the dark, but it's really open. More enclosed or cut-off, and maybe I'd reconsider.

No, never in any park.

I have done. 2 XL dogs off lead soon warn me if anyone is coming.

No way, as others have said even in daylight I wouldn't feel particularly comfortable walking in an empty park alone.

Our nearest green space, not a park as it's not enclosed, is not safe at night, I wouldn't cross it after dark, with or without a dog. I don't have a dog, anyway!

Nope I wouldnt in fact all the parks near me get the gates locked at dusk. I also have a dog that would let me know if there was anyone there.

Depends on the dog. On my own - never.

Depends on the park. I spend a lot of time roaming around the countryside at night, and would feel much less safe walking around a city. It's men that are dangerous, not parks, so the fewer men there are around the safer I feel.

I have done many times. Obviously, it depends on the park!

Nope, not a chance

I would but my dog is huge, if he wasn't so big probably not.

I would feel too nervous too so I don’t think you are being silly as it’s important to feel safe.

I think it’s a shame women have to change their behaviour in order to be safe rather than those who pose a risk to women in parks at night changing thier behaviour.