Walking alone at night

I've always loved walking in the dark so it wouldn't bother me. Having said that I do take care - I stay alert and aware of what is happening around me, don't go anywhere too secluded and I carry my phone and a very loud whistle in my pocket.

I walk everywhere I can, and always have done, all over the world, and the only time I nearly came to harm was at home in Wales when I was in my teens when someone attacked me 20 yards from my front door late one night. I luckily wasn't harmed but it shook me up for a while and taught me a lesson. Like some others my main worry these days is falling over!

I totally agree Nanna58. the rules you follow are also the ones that many men follow as well, for fear of being mugged for a watch or their wallet, attacks that are as likely to leave the victim injured or murdered as random attacks on women

I live in London and , without taking unnecessary risks ie shortcuts through parks or alleys have always gone out at night and will continue to do so. We can’t and shouldn’t change our lifestyle due to fear.

I do go out at night on occasion, but try to take sensible precautions, therefore park in a well lit place, ideally at the place I am visiting or very close to it, tell people where I’m going, have a fully charged phone with me, etc. Nothing is foolproof, of course, but we can only do what we can do to make ourselves as safe as possible. As regards walking anywhere in the dark, if it’s late, I’d rather not, certainly not alone.

When I was a schoolgirl travelling on the train, often alone, I came across "Flashers" frequently. I told my mum who said I should always get into a carriage with a woman in it already. She also said that the ones who flash are not the ones who rape and murder (How did she know that!) In those days there were Ladies Only carriages but sometimes men got in.
Also there were carriages with no corridor through so the woman might get off before I did. and leave me alone with the scary male.
I was thoroughly spooked.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34061094
Out in the fields with nobody around I don't feel scared.

My biggest fear is forgetting my torch. Went out one evening and the street light was out - it is so dark here that I couldn’t find my drive! Took my phone out to ring OH to turn on outside light and remembered the torch facility on it ?

I avoid being out on my own at night, always have done. I was a student in Sheffield at the time of the Yorkshire Ripper, and it was drummed into us not to go out alone. The warning stuck with me!

My daughter has to walk back to her car from work. The car is in a well lit car park, but accessed via a subway under the ring road. I have always felt this was dangerous, but she says there are lots of people using it.
However, now fewer people are in their offices ( and in town generally), the subway is quieter. Another lady in her office, more my age than hers, suggested they walk back to their cars together. Not always easy to arrange, as some people work overtime, but doable.
My daughter asked " Have you been talking to my Mum?" {smile} She does now walk with this lady, and I feel she is safer.
xx

I agree with everything Grandma2213 has said.
Nothing is going to stop me going out at night alone apart from bad health. There are plays, meet ups and concerts awaiting and now restrictions are easing up, off I go.
(Taking care of course).

I wouldn't go out at night without my car. I do live in the countryside so it's essential. But even when I lived in town I still would only go out in my car. I had experiences in the past of being followed and being threatened.

I’m currently looking after one of DD2’s dogs, so I am going out in the dark. Feel quite safe as long as I have my phone in my pocket.

I avoid going out after dark where I live as I don’t feel safe. However, last year in Brighton it was no problem. I just feel more at home there and there are many young people round and about.

Used to when I was younger, had to walk to work and back, dark mornings and dark evenings, I also had to walk across a park. Now I cringe at the thought.

We live rurally, but less than a third of a mile from a busy main road.

I would be perfectly happy to go for a walk at any time of the day or night around here, but after dark, would prefer to be in the fields so I am not visible from the roads.

Out of sight of casual passers-by in cars, I feel that the biggest danger to me by far is that of falling, but that is true in daylight too, and age 60, it's a risk that I am still prepared to take.

That said, it is actually quite rare for me to go out in the dark (apart from in the garden) - I don't have a dog, so don't have a good excuse, and not surprisingly, OH is not happy about my doing it.

Earlier this year, I did go out after dark a few times to try to spot badgers, having noticed many active setts on my daytime walks. I was unsuccessful, but then realised that with binoculars, I can actually actually see a sett from our bedroom, and as the evenings got lighter, I was able to watch a badger family frequently as they came out to play and forage before dark. No need/excuse to venture out in the dark any more.

I must admit, I would be very nervous about being out alone in the dark in a town or built-up area, once the streets started to empty. That's not something I would do without good reason!

I agree with Grandma2213 and with M0nica and all those who say the media whip up the fear.
I was going to go for a shortish walk along the river yesterday but it was already getting dark and I remembered falling a few years ago so changed my mind.
As an art student in London in the 60s, I often had to walk home from the station at night.
I had to pass a cemetery on one side, prison at the top of the road and a psychiatric hospital a few streets away.
It was the footsteps behind which would spook me.....

Well you wouldnt be able to leave the house after 4pm in winter so yes.

I rarely go out at night as I don't feel safe.

I remember once going to see a horror film with a friend. Driving home alone a little voice in my head said "what if there is something in the back seat". I was so relieved to pull onto my driveway, until someone's escaped dog suddenly jumped at me out of the darkness. I nearly wet myself.

It also depends where you live - I live centrally and with reliable public transport so have no problem returning home alone at night from eating out, theatre etc. But I always have my wits about me and don't chat on the phone or have earphones in.

Lots of us oldies are out and about socialising, not forgetting many over 60s are still working and have no choice but to be out in the dark.

It is pitch black here at night so it would be dangerous to walk even with company!

Never, I'm afraid of the dark I won't even go out to the bin. Peeping Tom when I was 18 frightened the life out of me!

Statistically, the most dangerous time, for rape, is early in the morning. I've always gone out and about at any time - and felt perfectly safe. I walk the dog whenever it suits me, twice a day.

The media haven't helped in the perception of risk and danger. Grisly news sells, after all. I agree entirely with Grandma2213.

Living in a village, any journey beyond the village is a car journey, so I do not walk out at night very much, but it would not bother me to walk out at night on my own and I do, on occasion walk to the post box and back.

DD regularly does the 1 mile walk between her home and the station, after dark, both in the rush hour and much later. She got the last train out of Londn (after midnight) and walked home at 1.00am last Saturday.

Like Grandma2213 I think random senseless murders like that of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa hit the headlines because they are so rare, yet every week 2 women are killed by people they know, usually a partner, their deaths are rarely more than a 5 minute wonder in the local media.

I occasionally go for a local walk in the evening not really bothered by the dark.

I would walk anywhere in my little town at night. Feel completely safe.

Yes, I go home in the dark from work in the Winter. I walk at least 10 minutes to the car.
I have also walked home from the station at a much later time.

No, I don’t. My mobility issues mean I’m seldom out alone.