Would you walk home from the station alone at midnight?

[Pamsresearch]

It's about 15 mins along a main road. Not particularly nice area, skirts the edge of a council estate and large construction site.

I do it about once a month, but have learned not to tell anyone for all the lectures I get!

I refuse to restrict my life because of the behaviour of (a few) others. A taxi is not always available and even if it were, it costs money and actually, I feel safer walking than I do in some mini cabs.

Am I really in that much of a minority?

Nope - I would walk too. Against the flow of traffic but otherwise with no issue.

I NEVER walk near council estates, don't know what you'll catch!

Yes, I'd probably walk it.

I would be fine with it. I walked home from my city centre job last night after finishing at 10pm. Four miles ish through different areas, main roads, canal paths, fields, alleys, parks.

If you are in the minority I’ll join you

Yes I'd walk too. the chances of anything actually happening to you are tiny.

Well I wouldn’t, because my nearest station is ten miles away!
It’s really up to you, OP. Statistically, you are unlikely to meet a rapist/murderer if you only do this once a month - but that’s not much consolation if you are the unlucky one.
Have you considered self defence training, to ensure you can incapacitate an attacker long enough to escape?

I would and did walk 30 mins home at 3am last weekend along main roads. However, I would never tell DP as he would insist on coming to get me. Most of the time he does collect me from the train but if it’s the middle of the night I’d say I was getting a taxi as I don’t want him waiting up.

I don’t think the time makes a difference, it’s just as dark at 8pm and plenty women been attacked and murdered much earlier in the day. I would but would flag up with someone I’d been out with and let them know I would text in 15min and if they didn’t hear from me to try contact me. Sometimes it feels safer just get going on own steam than wait ages for taxi and be the line female hanging around in obvious place by station.

No I wouldn't. I don't walk anywhere in the dark alone. And I hate that that's true but previous experience leads me to not feel safe.

Yes but MN will have you thinking no woman walks outside alone after dark, I’ve literally seen posts where women have claimed they don’t go out after dark and since it starts getting dark at around 4pm In winter I find that very hard to believe...

I think I would. I would feel less safe if I was young, though. I feel pretty safe as an older woman. More at risk of being mugged than something worse.

Dd tries not to, she takes a folding bike and cycles instead.

I would, although I respect the decision of anyone who wouldn't. We aren't a society in which people are always safe, women and other minorities especially.

Is there street lighting? I'd try and walk against the traffic, wouldn't wear headphones and wouldn't do it in bad weather (it's terrible being splashed by cars).

No I wouldn't. I don't like walking anywhere after dark unless its really busy like a shopping centre before the shops close.

I do this all the time

For me it's not so much about time or general dodginess as the specific characteristics of where you're walking -- is it lit, are there people around, how easily could someone grab you out of nowhere

But I totally respect women who don't, we all need to do what we're comfortable with

Yes. Completely comfortably in a nice area, but in a slightly rough area I still would, I’d just be more on my guard. I’d stick to properly-lit streets after dark whatever the area was like, though- no shortcuts through parks or anything like that.

No I wouldnt

And I never have headphones in when I’m walking around or running, even in broad daylight. You need to hear what’s coming up behind you, whether it’s a rapist or a car or a cyclist, and whether you’re a tiny woman or a six foot ninja.

No, ideally not. Even though it's as dark at 8pm, there are usually more people around coming home from work. By midnight there are more dodgy characters out in my area at least (i.e. men hanging out in groups on street corners).

Even earlier in the evening I prefer to stay close to houses and would avoid the local park. I also carry a rape alarm although I realise it probably wouldn't help me much.

Yes I would and do. Its about 20 minutes walk from the station home.

The only concession I make is always comfy shoes on a night out so I can walk back briskly and purposefully, rather than tottering, but TBH that's how I live life generally these day.

Agree no headphones for waking or running, but that's more about traffic.

I would but I walk 25 mins to and from the station in the dark every day in winter. No option as I don't have a car.

yes i would and i do

@Pamsresearch

The only concession I make is always comfy shoes on a night out so I can walk back briskly and purposefully, rather than tottering, but TBH that's how I live life generally these day.

Agree no headphones for waking or running, but that's more about traffic.

Same as this. I've always been happy walking alone at night. I do avoid the alleyway and stick to the road after dark though, whether it's 2am or 5pm in winter.

Yes and I do, in different but not necessarily better surroundings - several pubs, private housing, field.

I’ve done it all my life not going to stop now! There do seem to be more walkers like me now than there were last century.

I would if it was also well lit. I hate being lectured for doing what 50% of the population does without a second thought. It’s all about being sensible and assessing the risk