Do you walk alone at night?

[FeetupTvon]

I love walking for fitness and relaxation.
Now the nights are drawing in I’m wondering if I should use the treadmill at the gym instead.
Obviously I want to continue going for walks but don’t want to feel unsafe as that defeats the object of walking being for mindfulness.
Just want to know how common/uncommon walking alone in the dark is.

I always have done. I'm about to turn 50 and walk wherever I want, at whatever time I want. Parks, fields, city, whatever. I have always felt safe. I've never had any scary situations.
I think the situations I'd draw the line are particularly dodgy neighbourhoods with high levels of crime (eg, knife crime, mugging etc). I don't actually know any neighbourhoods like this near me so it's not an issue. Very happy to walk around my city (Leeds) and my neighbourhood at night.

That made me laugh. I only do it on quiet residential streets.
I also have my 'Londoner march' walk, pretty fast and very confident.
If I have to leave a station at night and I'm not not sure which direction I never stand around looking lost. I just walk whilst figuring it out.

I live in an area of south London with a fairly high crime rate and I wouldn't walk to the corner shop alone after dark alone. I'm not generally over cautious, and I will happily walk round overseas cities such as Luxor or Singapore on my own at night, and may feel differently in other parts of the UK, but not where I live.

Afternoon/evening? Yes. It gets dark at 4pm in middle if winter! But on roads etc. I probably wouldn't go in the woods...

Yes I have always walked alone at night. Partly because I am a bloody minded sod and I hate the idea of things being off limits because some arsehole might take it upon himself to threaten or harass me. Just not having this be made my problem.

Also because the vast vast majority of sexual assault, rape and violence against women is committed by partners and family members not random strangers and I have always found it irritating that people pretend otherwise.

I live in a suburban area and i go walking, running, cycling in the dark. I am quite tall and big, not an easy target and not easily intimidated.

I do, but I have a bloody big dog with me. Not really alone I s'pose.

I would never walk alone at night.

I don't mind walking in the dark in busy places at a reasonable hour...so let's say in winter it's dark at 4.30pm...im fine to walk then. 3am in the morning, not so much. If I do have to walk alone at night it would be because I have no other choice...I wouldn't purposefully do it

Yes. I live alone. It's not going to stop me walking to the cinema or whatever. The only people I know who've been attacked out at night were men.

I grew up rurally - mum was more worried for us about poachers with guns than rapists. I'd be more worried about turning an ankle and having no signal to get help, though I have done night hikes in my youth.

Yes in my nearest city and in my rural village, but with an awareness of my surroundings.

I’ve was attacked/assaulted in London on a busy well lit street in a nice area. So I’m a little more wary but don’t let it stop me.

I don’t feel safe walking alone at night. But then saying that the 3 separate horrific incidents I’ve had of men indecently exposing themselves to me, following me home and being mugged (all in Norbury in South London before we moved) have all been during the day in broad daylight in busy places.

What do you mean by 'at night'? What time are you talking?

Where are you walking? How busy is it?

Yes I do, but I don't wear headphones, stick to known routes, always let someone know where and what time I'm going and I listen to my instincts, if I feel anxious or uneasy of someone else I'll head to a busier area and plan an alternative way home. I'm scared sometimes but I'm damned if I'll hide at home. However I do live in a low crime, relatively well lit area

I walk once a week after work at midnight. I would never wear earphones though. I have my phone on me. I always assess the situation. We should be able to walk and not be scared of being attacked.

I run after dark at night and before light throughout winter. At 5am there are usually other runners and dog walkers out, anyway. And obviously walk late at night if I’m coming home after a night out - I’m not sure what the alternative would be, unlikely to find an Uber willing to do a half mile journey from the station to my house at 1am.

I try to avoid certain parts of the West End / central London after about 11pm, though: too many bag and phone thieves about looking to take advantage of drunk people.

Yes I walk around in the dark with headphones on too.

As a PP has said the majority of attacks on women are in private space by people they know, not random public space in the dark things. Getting women to fear the latter inhibits their freedom of movement and ironically put them into the places that are more dangerous.

I do but only well lit main roads/town centre.

Have you tried asking on local Facebook pages or joining meet up, to see if there's anyone else who'd like to walk with you?

Yes if I want to go somewhere I’ll go. I’d stick to well lit roads but it will be fine. I do think that people can make themselves trapped by being too cautious. When I walk home from a restaurant up the road 10 mins down a main road I get friends looking shocked ( not offering a lift just “You’re walking!” In a way that implies I should not) There have been a few incidents around here over the years - all young men getting stabbed or killed in fights. I worry for my sons more. I’m still kicking myself that I didn’t go for a walk round the lake on Thursday night to see those Northern lights in the none lit bits thought .

@RayKray

As a PP has said the majority of attacks on women are in private space by people they know, not random public space in the dark things. Getting women to fear the latter inhibits their freedom of movement and ironically put them into the places that are more dangerous

Absolutely. I hate the way women are pushed into thinking it’s their job to manage the fact that men might be violent towards them in public. Not only is it incredibly misogynistic it’s actually a misrepresentation of the risks.

There are attacks on women at night and it would be stupid to pretend there aren’t. But by far the most common way for women to be injured or sexually assaulted is by a partner,

The trope of the guy looming out in an ill-lit alley is so so rare. The fear of going out at night is part and parcel of this whole myth of the random attacker. It does happen. But you are far far more likely to be murdered or raped by your husband or boyfriend.

I’m not saying women shouldn’t take sensible precautions to protect themselves and use common sense. But we would reduce violence against women and girls much faster if we focused on improving women’s authority, safety and self protection in the home.

I wouldn’t walk for the sake of walking on my own….I would walk back home from town ( about 10 minutes) up to say 10pm ….otherwise no

Yes I walk alone late at night. Coming home from the station or bus stop on the way from a night out, or just walking home if I see about a mile and a half.

Couldn’t have done my job if I didn’t.

S London

Also walked alone alongside woods and golf courses when I lived with a relative out past Moor Park.

And in rural areas where family live.

I don’t cut through our big local park after about 10pm.

As one of those women who was attacked by stranger appearing out the dark...
You need to be aware of your surroundings, and able to run.
But you can't be a hermit. It is rare.

Yes I have ways walked alone at night might and despair of this endless ridiculous ‘is it safe’ stuff Yes occasions bad things happen , but vastly more people are injured in car accidents etc but it doesn’t stop people driving. And I hate it when sent a text to ‘let me know you got home safely’ Yes of course I did!!!!

@Bewareofthisonetoo

And I hate it when sent a text to ‘let me know you got home safely

I hate this too. So melodramatic.