To ask if you feel safe as a woman to walk outside alone after dark

[Flufferblub]

I've been stuck indoors sick for a few days where I've been ill. I'm quite over weight and feel as though I need to go for a walk. I feel like I need to walk off the first meal I've had for a few days, as I feel quite uncomfortable. But I can't. Because I'm a woman and I don't feel safe enough to go out walking alone after dark. It's a shame that I don't feel safe enough to go out and get fresh air and exercise as a woman. Am I overly anxious, or is it just sensible to not go out alone at night? How do other women feel about this?

Thanks

Aslong as it's an area I know I feel fine to walk alone in the dark. If it was an inner city high crime area I didn't know to well I would feel nervous but it wouldn't stop me. I would stick to main roads in that case though.

Statistically you are safer waking on your own than walking with a man you know.

For example, male friend or acquaintance walking you home “for safety” is increasing your risk - firstly because in that scenario the most likely person to attack you is him, secondly because he brings risks to the scenario as a male when might be attacked by other males and you could be drawn into that, thirdly because you are distracted by chatting/might walk routes you don’t know as well or haven’t planned.

I will walk alone until about 10pm. After that I will get a taxi. I often play tennis until 9pm so I have to walk back from the club. My daughter also has to come home from school in the dark at the moment on her own. I don’t like that, but there is no way round it.

I'd never walk outside alone after dark but I'd feel ok if I had my 2 dogs with me.

It definitely depends on your area and how lit up it is.

I live in a safe area but it’s very rural and away from my small estate, there’s no one around for miles apart from cars driving past, so I wouldn’t feel safe.

The best time to walk is early morning.

Theres a lot less idiots around and people are more focused on getting to work/kids sorted that they wouldn’t give you a second thought.

I have no issues walking alone at night or in the dark. I live in a rural village next to a main road. I will walk the dog late some nights, go around to a friend and walk back very late alone. I used to go to the pub alone and walk back from there too. Never bothered me, I had to work alone in the dark years ago in towns so kind of got used to it.

In the small rural town up north where I live yes.

In a city or further down south no.

In my village, yes. In my local (small) market town, yes, absolutely.

I work in central London sometimes and definitely wouldn't wander around there after dark. The last time I was there at night, was the Christmas party. A male colleague was mugged by a group of men who stole his phone and one of them showed him a knife to discourage him from trying to get it back.

Doesn't matter which sex .

@janeintheframe No, I don't tend to go out after dark if I can help it. I don't mind driving so much. Nothing major has happened to me in the getting attacked by a stranger sense. I was bullied at school, and in an abusive marriage, and just had a few weird moments with weird men that all women seem to have. So maybe it all just adds up to being quite an anxious person. I've always felt vulnerable and defenceless, like I'd never stand a chance. Although if I'm carrying something heavy in a bag, I'd visualise myself hitting someone round the head with it to fight them off. Probably wouldn't have the strength in reality

I don’t feel safe waking alone when it’s dark.

Ive been followed and harassed many times and once assaulted when I’ve been out alone. My aunt has been mugged at knife point.

I drive, and have done for 14 years so it’s rare I’m walking anywhere at night that isn’t to-from work, home, a car park etc.

It really depends on the time, where I am walking and how deserted it is. I will walk round my village with streetlights and pavements and feel quite safe but wouldn't walk the back lanes that I happily run on in daylight. I wouldn't walk round most of a nearby town centre at night when everything is shut and the only people out are up to no good. Certainly wouldn't walk through a park, woodland, industrial estate etc either.

I live near the centre of a large UK city and feel safe to walk anywhere at anytime.

However I do know that many women don't feel the same and it's something that we urgently need to address 😊

Yes I am the same. I walk during the day but only where there is traffic and in places where there are people/houses. I wouldn't go walking in woods on my own during the day or a tow path.

My town is hardly the nicest place but I work late nights and regularly walk through to sit and wait for a lift.

Never really considered how "odd" it was that I was that comfortable walking around late at night until I went to London with a friend. Walking back to our hotel and I was fine, she was on high alert the whole time.

If anything, men shouldn't feel safe walking around at night. They are more likely to be physically assaulted by some opportunistic thug or gang

No I don’t.
Before I drove, I walked after dark a lot by necessity. Never felt safe doing so, always on alert to some extent.
In those days I was living in city centres which felt safer than my naice suburb.

Women are more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted though

I walk alone outside after dark - at home this is in a rural village but when I travel for work it is large cities in UK and EU

Yes, but this is a total separate issue to women walking alone at night and not feeling safe. Please don’t turn this into “what about men”.

I live in small town near Glasgow. I would go out when it's dark but keep to main roads. I don't walk in the park or by canal when it's dark.

Of course. I'm a Londoner. I walk everywhere. If I didn't go out after dark, I'd spend half the year not going anywhere at all.

I never feel afraid in the city. It's always lit and there are always people, no matter the time.

I walk when I want where I want. The risk of attack is not worth imprisonment in my home

I always feel that if I take risks and do get attacked then it will be my fault.

It will never be your fault. The only fault lies with the attacker.

It depends what time. I walk my dogs in the dark up to around 9pm and I walk back from the train station in the dark in the evenings. I feel pretty safe where I live, but I am more aware/ nervous than I am if walking in the day.