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?

I do it but don't like it and I live in a very safe area - based on crime stats, not demographics. If I were you I would take some reasonable precautions like carrying a personal alarm.

I think it is about statistics. The likelihood of being grabbed or raped. It depends where it is but it's pretty low, negligible where I live.

If there's a nutter /mad axeman about it's extreme bad luck as there hasn't been one in living memory round here.

Yes. I'm in London but walk back from the station at a similar time on a frequent basis. Closer to 10 mins for me but still very quiet at that time. I enjoy it.

Generally like going for long walks at night though so am a bit biased on this topic.

No I wouldn’t walk far alone if it is not a busy area. Not so much the time that’s important imo but more whether there are a few people about or not. I’d imagine midnight being very quiet so no I wouldn’t xo

Yes I do, along a main road and then a quiet side street. I don't feel safe so am on my guard.

Yes I would, but I'd be fucking bricking it the whole time!

@YourenutsmiLord doesn't mean you won't get an opportunistic passerby.
I sometimes feel some women think women who won't walk alone in the dark are a bit pitiful.
If you've ever been in a situation where you felt you came close to being a picture on the news, statistics and probabilities mean nothing.

Yes, I do. TBH the two times in my life I have felt really nervous and threatened by strange men have been in taxis, where in one instance the driver was badgering me for my phone number and the other was just plain weird!

Thinking about it, I probably felt more panicked as I was trapped in a vehicle with them. I felt more vulnerable and cut off than if I had been on the open street.

I regularly do this as I don't have (and have never had) a car. I am 60 and nothing has ever happened to me. I can't bear the discourse that all women are vulnerable, frail victims.

There is, for sure, a problem with male violence. That is, men are also at risk when walking at night. The problem is male violence, not reckless women. It's the crime which needs addressing, not the behaviour of the victims. Curfews for men make more sense than women not being allowed to walk alone.

Yes I would

Yes I would if it were only 15 minutes. I’d feel comfortable to walk home from our station at night, but in theory it’s takes 50 minutes to an hour so for that reason wouldn’t even consider it.

Well i live 17 miles from the nearest train station so no, I wouldn’t!

But if you’re comfortable doing it, why not?! I walk in the hills in the dark. People might say that is dangerous, but i feel comfortable.

I wear headphones because without them, long walks alone through less than interesting places, at night, are really boring. And being alone with my own thoughts would probably make me paranoid.

With my headphones on, I am justified in ignoring all dickheads who like to comment (these are legion, especially if running, and especially at pub kicking out time). With my headphones on, I can use the time I am moving to do something I enjoy (podcasts). Moderate exercise at a very brisk walk with something interesting in your ears turns a necessary journey into something enjoyable and productive.

So I wear headphones.

I don’t think anyone is pitiful, we all perceive risks differently and nobody is wrong.

@YourenutsmiLord doesn't mean you won't get an opportunistic passerby.
I sometimes feel some women think women who won't walk alone in the dark are a bit pitiful.If you've ever been in a situation where you felt you came close to being a picture on the news, statistics and probabilities mean nothing.

If you think that a passerby might mug or rape you at night you are saying that basically you cannot go anywhere without a physically strong person to 'protect' you. It means no small or less than physically strong man or woman, no disabled person who is unable to fight off another, no sight impaired person can go out in the dark

I just don't think this should be the default position. Britain is probably one of the safest countries in the world.

I live in the countryside - the danger would be a car driver not seeing you not another person.

I would have previously said yes and I used to do stuff like that all the time. However since becoming a mum I feel like all my thoughts have changed and I don't think i would now.

Don't care if my wife wanted to I wouldn't let her I'd pick her up everytime.In the past she's been knocked over from behind ,had a man jump out of some bushes and these incidents were first thing in the morning. Even if these hadn't happened it's still not happening..always good to have a male perspective.

No, because it’s 22 miles away.

If it was 15 minutes then yes.

Depends who is around. If it is busy with people I would, I usually judge on the day.

@justgivein

Don't care if my wife wanted to I wouldn't let her I'd pick her up everytime.In the past she's been knocked over from behind ,had a man jump out of some bushes and these incidents were first thing in the morning. Even if these hadn't happened it's still not happening..always good to have a male perspective.

You wouldn’t “let her”?

How unpleasant.

I would but I'd carry an umbrella in case I felt I needed a weapon to defend myself and if I live alone I'd let someone know I was doing it and I'd let them know when I'd be home.

I just wonder how women who won’t do this manage it? Maybe if you live rurally. As an adult I’ve always lived in London or the South East. I am a higher rate tax payer and I couldn’t afford to never walk anywhere by myself after dark!

This is exactly me, although the area is maybe a bit nicer than you describe but there a few bridges and wooded spots. I always text DH so he knows when to expect me but kids are too little to be left alone so he can’t pick me up yet.

If I have been in a rich to go out I often leave my car parked at the station and if necessary I have comfy boots in the back which I can change into before I walk home.

I would walk it. I quite enjoy walking late at night.

While I completely understand and respect women who say they wouldn’t and would only feel safe if it was busier - this frustrates me so much. If everyone who needed to walked these routes would be busier! But I don’t know how we can get to this critical mass.

@justgivein

Don't care if my wife wanted to I wouldn't let her I'd pick her up everytime.In the past she's been knocked over from behind ,had a man jump out of some bushes and these incidents were first thing in the morning. Even if these hadn't happened it's still not happening..always good to have a male perspective.

No, not really that great when the perspective is controlling a woman's behaviour... Are there lots of things that you 'wouldn't let' your wife do?