How to get to work now

[chocolatemuffin75]

My shifts are changing at work to 6am starts, I don’t have a car, couldn’t really afford one as I live alone, I can’t afford a taxi everyday, I would have to leave my house at 5.25am everyday, does anyone else have to walk to work early mornings? Just wondering how safe it is going to be, obviously it should be ok at this time of year but come winter I’m not so sure, there is no one at work who can give me a lift either.

The only way to know is to ask people who live in your area. Where I live 5:30 am is fairly busy, we have a factory that has a 6am shift start/finish so that helps, a few people cycling, and me walking the dog. Busier in summer /nice weather but work traffic the same. Oh and farmers start work early round here. However near my mum and dad that would be a quiet time, very few people/cars around

I drive to work around that time. Where i go there is quite a few cars on a road. I assume its mainly people starting work at 6am. I normally see a few people walking too. There are buses going too and people at bus stops. I wouldn't be worried, but then its hard to tell not knowing what your route would be.

Hi Viz,torch, personal alarm.
Not bad in summer, winter is doable but be aware of your surroundings and no head phones.
There are some weirdos about early morning's.
My Dw done it for years 5.15 am one of her colleagues walked the same route and was approached twice by a guy in a car,she had to hide and get her husband to come get her.

was starting at 10, but I will finish earlier 😊

Its impossible to say without knowing the area you will be coming to and from.

Where I live, I feel perfectly safe walking around any time of day or night

Our local city centre has parts I wouldn't feel safe in broad day light.

It’s normally a busy road in the daytime near a train station and a river

you are massively overthinking this.
just make sure you have a personal alarm, waterproofs and a torch for winter.
people will be out and about.

This is fun ..... any more information you want to drip feed OP! It's a busy road ...... near a train station ..... near a river ...... any more info you'd like to share 🤣

It's no different to a normal bike.
Just easier!

None of us can tell you how many people will be about at that time of the morning as we know nothing about your area, crime statistics etc. As you’ve said it’s a busy ish road, it’s likely there will be some vehicles on it, but impossible to even guess how many pedestrians maybe about.

Why don’t you empower yourself as much as possible by getting a personal alarm and doing a self defence class. May make you feel less vulnerable. Also, if you have a colleague starting at the same time, maybe drop them a text on the way for some extra reassurance.

I shouldn’t imagine it would take long to learn to ride a bike again and there may be classes.

OP, I think you're massively overthinking this. And I don't think anything anyone in here says will reassure you about the walk. On a busy road. Near a train station. And a river.

I don't walk at that time every day but several times a year I have to walk to the train station which is about the same distance at that time of day and even in my relatively small town there are people up and about. Most of them also going to and from work but some walk dogs or go for a jog/run before work.

Thank you for your helpful comment

i can’t see the issue unless you need to walk through a very rough area. As you haven’t said where it is, only you can know that. But I cannot think of anywhere I have lived - including east London - where I would have thought twice about this.

I'm out with the dog at that time, small town and will always see other people, walking running etc. Lots of cars as well. Tend to get into a routine of seeing the same people and passing the time of day.

Cycle it. I used to have to be in for 5am as a student on the other side of town. Would take me 20 mins to cycle instead of 45 mins walking. Just wore a high viz and lots of lights during the darker mornings. I then rode half way home after but pushed the rest as I lived in a town centre with some horrible right hand turns across several lanes of heavy traffic.

Edit: the worst I used to come across were drunks lying half in the the road and half on the pavement. Gave me some interesting jumps (joke obvs)

In the winter as well?

I would think the only people you're likely to see that time of the morning are dog walkers and fitness freaks. Bad'uns tend to be up the other end of the day, I reckon.

Loads of people about in my area at that time but obviously it depends where you live

Why not go out one day at that time and do a trial run to see?

Yes I’m thinking of doing this

If your shift starts at 6 would you need to leave earlier so you can get to work, sign in, dump your stuff, go toilet etc?

I frequently walk to work (town centre) at 6.30 and it takes about 20 minutes, plenty of people about then, mostly going to work and the odd local drunk in the nice weather!
It definitely feels safer first thing rather than later in the day and actually is a good way to start your day even in the bad weather.

Yes I would leave about 5.25

You’re making a mountain out of a molehill.