Scared to walk home!

[Madtherapist]

I am going out for a drink tomorrow, just to a pub in the town, and I’m actually a bit worried about the walk home, it won’t be too late, maybe 10/10.30, my husband offered to pick me up, or I could get a taxi, but now I think maybe I should just pull up my big girl pants and just walk, it’s roughly 20 mins.
does anyone else get like this? Am I just being overly paranoid and dramatic!
it’s definitely something I didn’t really think about in my younger days, how unsafe it can actually be, I used to walk miles in the early hours of the morning just to get home after a night out.

Do you live in a very dangerous area?

I’m in a bit of of South London with somewhat of a reputation, but I’m happy to walk home. Don’t go through unlit parks ect, but streets are fine in the late evenings.

If your husband is offering to pick you up, why wouldn’t you just accept?

Take the lift if your husband is offering

Let your husband pick you up and then you won't be thinking about it when socialising. That's one of the benefits of having a partner, they do things like this for you. If it's a 20 minute walk it's a 10 minute round trip with the pick up built in for him. Just let him do it.

I’d accept the lift because I’d be tired. Im not scared to walk home no. I walk home alone a lot. But my DP is picking me up from the station tonight after I’ve been out with friends because I’m tired and not very warmly dressed.

We should be able to walk where we want and when we want without fear. Chances are you'll be ok, but you're not going to enjoy the walk home (and may possibly worry about it during your night out) so I'd take your husband up on the offer of a lift.

You have a lift ??
why would you walk ?????

It’s a needless risk to take. Accept the lift or get a taxi.

I wouldn’t walk home alone in the dark after about 6/7pm.

Is it mare a psychological thing in that you feel you are losing your confidence to be independent when it wasn't an issue when you were younger.

You have the offer of a lift so no reason not to take it.

That said, I am often out walking at night and TBH I don't give it a moments thought.
I often don't even need a reason but taking Ddogs out for a late night wander (down the byeway and around the park), walk back from a last minute late night shop at the supermarket (25min walk) etc.

I am the mum that picks everyone up, and makes sure everyone is home. Everyone deserves to be safe. If a lift is offered, then take it.

Take the lift.

As I’ve got older and go out far less at night I don’t like walking home much in the dark. I do it but if DH is home and either offers to meet me or pick me up I’m not going to say no!

I will take the lift, I just didn’t know if I was being dramatic not wanting to walk home,
I don’t live in a dangerous area, some rough parts, however some things have happened over the years, people going missing walking home and sadly not being found for months etc…

You should be able to walk alone at any time of the day or night, you would be perfectly safe most of the time.

But there are those who fall into the small numbers of statistics of some form
of attack - there is a degree of paranoia to worry about those. There are small numbers of headline cases, but there are more that don’t hit the national headlines

The most likely ‘risk’ however is general drunken dickheads, which will be dependant upon the area
(Men can also be subject to a risk from general drunken dickheads, but women can have different risks)

The old fashioned view is that women should not be left to walk alone - it is sexist but can remain a risk
(Noting that there can be cases where a woman is at more risk from the ‘gentleman’ who they know walking them home than the strangers who may be encountered along the way)

The better option is to stay out as long as you would like and to take up the lift from your husband, a 20 minute walk will be next to nothing for him to do a round trip by car

I would not walk anywhere in the dark on my own , why take the risk

If it was through a relatively busy area I would do it no problem, if it was quiet and deserted I wouldn't.

I remember my DDad giving me some basic safety ideas, not going anywhere unfamiliar alone, if very quiet walk down the centre of the road so noone can jump on you when you are unawares (clearly if a busy road it was likely to be less threatening) carrying my perfume in my hand and trying to spray it in any assailants eyes, crying "fire" to get help rather than just screaming. Never risk it if even slightly drunk, here's taxi money. He would never let me have a Walkman (I'm that old) because he said you needed all your senses to stay safe.

This was a big city a long time ago but I'm not sure the world was necessarily safer and I'm sad if women don't feel they can make a short walk by themselves.

I will never accept this unofficial curfew placed on women. Why would anyone willingly choose to make their life smaller? I mean, I know why, because they're scared. I get scared too. But I face my fears because I don't ever want to feel like I'm a prisoner in my home. I'm not saying anyone should take stupid risks. But if it's a relatively safe area, you know the way, and you have sensible footwear and a phone, I feel like that's not something to be especially scared of. I mean, I would probably accept the lift just out of laziness/wanting to get home quicker, so no judgement on that score. But if you realise you find yourself too scared to go out alone in general, maybe you need to work on building your confidence a little?

It isn't about losing confidence, its about growing up and gaining greater awareness. Sadly it is ridiculous to walk home at that time of night. She will almost certainly be fine but why would you risk it?

Confidence doesn’t help much of some lunatic wants to drag you off. Unfortunately these stories just keep on coming. I walk my dog daily and have changed my routes because the lovely, quiet walks now feel like a risk too far.

DD’s fit , young boyfriend was jumped when he walked to a late night shop in Cardiff. He woke up dazed round the back of the shop with no wallet and a cut head. It’s a horrible world unfortunately.

I walk home alone from my train station at night in the dark, always have done. It’s a 20 minute walk. Dh grumbles and would prefer me to get a taxi (he’s usually asleep when I get back, he goes to sleep at about 10:30!).
I also wear headphones. Some would say that’s silly; I’d probably agree but I’ve always been fine.
Mostly stick to one particular route but sometimes take a shortcut through an alleyway - only people I ever see down there are on late night dog walks and the odd fox.

As I've become older I've become more aware of just how dangerous the roads can be. I'm more aware of the risks when I'm driving but it doesn't stop me doing it. As long as I drive as safely as I can. So I'd apply the same with walking at night, pick the safest route, walk briskly, dont listen to headphones. Obviously if very drunk then taxi or lift.

I don’t think twice about walking home any time of night but recognise that I live in an incredibly safe area….