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?

@Peakedtoosoon It happened to me so odds don't mean that much to me I'm afraid. I'm not trying to scaremonger or anything like that - I'm just giving my horrible experience in the hope that someone else doesn't have to go through it. I'd rather have spent £10 on a taxi that night than go through what I did.

I probably would. I walk home often after catching the last train home after work, gets me in at 12.40. It's a 25 minute walk home along a reasonably well lit road in a small town. Problem is that the street lights get switched off at 1am here so I have to either walk really fast to get back before they do or resign myself to tripping over our crappy pavements in the absolute pitch dark.

Yes without thinking about it. I always run in the dark October to March in the week too with headphones in which no one on here ever ever seems to do.

@Akire

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.

Exactly this. The murderers and rapists don't suddenly appear after 11pm.

I actually feel safer later. At 9pm there aren't many people about but there are some men. At midnight or later I often don't see anyone.

I have spent my entire working / adult life walking home from the station / bus stop late at night. In S London. It’s normal.

How do you think people manage if they work in hospitality, theatres, cinemas, shift work etc?

I would as it's along a main road. I hate that I feel so uncomfortable walking after dark.

Yup and have done for a many years at all times of day (and often late after a night out). I walk quite fast and purposefully. If I see a person / gang of people hanging around who look like trouble I just cross the road and walk faster.

@changingstages that's crap that they switch off the street lights, is that in the UK?

I would and I live in a dodgy bit of London. I know many who wouldn’t though.

@changingstages

I probably would. I walk home often after catching the last train home after work, gets me in at 12.40. It's a 25 minute walk home along a reasonably well lit road in a small town. Problem is that the street lights get switched off at 1am here so I have to either walk really fast to get back before they do or resign myself to tripping over our crappy pavements in the absolute pitch dark.

They brought that in were we used to live as a council cost cutting measure I think - an area with large numbers of shift workers - though TBF you'd have to drive as buses stopped fairly early as did trains.

www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/latest-bid-street-lights-turned-16945951

Where we are now there are some solar powered street lights.

Generally yes, against traffic, on main roads though. I was much more comfortable walking and running at night in london than in my current smaller city tho. I think just because so many more people were out. I wouldn't do the walk a PP mentions, with towpaths and parks at night though.

No I wouldn't but I understand about not feeling safe on a taxi. I drive so I tend to stay on soft drinks on nights out etc. If I have to go home alone. But I live in a remote area.

@Horriblewoman

Yes without thinking about it. I always run in the dark October to March in the week too with headphones in which no one on here ever ever seems to do.

I don't want to get run over.

In the early morning/late evening some motorists are complete CF so they ignore speed limits and traffic lights. I suppose it is good sprint training to have to leap half way across a crossing to avoid being mowed down.

Illogical perhaps, but not at midnight. Fewer people about, but I would be in the same darkness up to about 9 pm and would be happy to do it then.

Yes I would, I will not be restricted.

I would walk from our train station to my house at that time so I don't see a problem with it. I'd be more worried if I was walking home at kicking out time.

I used to do that, and much worse when younger. I never ever had a problem, until I did. I was a victim of stranger rape on such a walk, I never would never do it again.

I do agree the risk is very very low.

I hate getting taxis, but I would get a taxi.

@HollowTalk

Well, I’m happy to walk wherever. I take a torch. There is no reason I’d be safer in one place than another. It’s faster to go through the fields so I go through the fields. It’s far far easier to see if there’s anyone around in the fields. Firstly, you can see much further in front/behind, and secondly, anyone around is lit up by their own light.

I go through the parks, there are usually dog walkers. Canal paths, it’s usually cyclists after dark. Underpasses, there are a few round here, usually stink of piss so who would want to hang around there.

I pass all the pubs round kicking out time. Everyone’s walking home. I have my headphones in most of the time.

I’m not saying I’ve never run into dodgy shit, but everyone has.Contrary to others on the thread, own personal experience tells me I’m far safer on my own outdoors than at home with other people.

No. Definitely not.

Why the headphones? There is some danger, so why not be in a better position to deal with something if it happens?

A council estate 😱

I've done this kind of thing a lot and never felt it was especially risky. I was surprised when I got a bit older and people offered to walk with me or expressed that they wouldn't do the same.

I suppose I've been lucky but it was where I lived. If I didn't feel safe there I don't know what I'd have done. Sometimes with headphones, more often without.

Yes I would.

@pizzaobsessed

Absolutely not. For me, it's not about the statistics of something happening, it's about not putting myself in the position for it to happen, it's a risk I'm not willing to take. Yes, you shouldn't have to alter your behaviour/decisions for a small number of weirdos but I'd rather do that than my family lose me or I have to deal with the aftermath of a rape or attack of some other kind.

This.

Yep. Have done regularly.