Women; Do you walk alone at night?

[zanana]

I live in a city of about 100,000. About ten years ago, I would walk my dog at night with no worry. Today, I wouldn't dream of it. Maybe it's just me getting older and wimpy. This city averages only about two murders a month. How about your neck of the woods? Do you walk alone?

[hlthe2b]

1. I do in well lighted residential streets with my dog and pepper spray...

or in the nearby shopping district with lots of restaurants and coffe shops open late...I will only walk across the large nearby park (which allows me foot access to a nearby grocery store), until early dusk.

This question reminds me of a summer I spent in Stockholm, when I was so amazed to see women with baby carriages out walking at 3 am by themselves-- with no worry (during those very long days of light around summer solstice). If Americans could see the sense of freedom from fear in many European and Scandinavian countries, they would be amazed...

On edit, I'm in Central Denver and violent crime is a concern. Ironically, this city seems more concerned about cracking down on off-leash dogs in the nearby park than any of the other more serious unlawful behaviors going on there at night. Adding to the irony, is that more people with their dogs out at night does bring down crime, as has been shown in many cities.

I really underscore the sense of protection afforded by the dog. While she is not at all aggressive, she will go into a low growl if someone comes up suddenly and startles her and is just big enough (at 60 pounds) to give at least some pause.. I NEVER drive at night alone without her in the car-- Most people know how territorial protective dogs can be in the car. A car jacker would have to be pretty bold to go after one occupied with a large dog.

[underpants]

2. Bookmarking

:evilgrin::spank:

[elfwitch]

3. No fricken way!

I live in Dallas. I don't even like going to my car at night and it is parked right in front of my apartment.

[2Design]

4. I go every where alone

I live in an area of 500,000 and I go lots of places....some areas I am cautious....but if there aren't bars on the windows of stores, I consider it an area to possible venture out in....

most of it is instinct...

In some cities I wouldn't go out even back in the 80's. I found European cities safer.....at that time...

what state and where are you?

[Lavender Brown]

5. When I have to

but it makes me nervous. Sometimes I walk 10 blocks from the subway, and after 11 or so it can be sketchy. My roommate was mugged a short time ago in our neighborhood (which is generally a safe one).

[2Design]

10. where are you..... I am curious about safe and unsafe areas

I have been thinking of moving to some other part of the country so it is interesting to read people's comments

[Lavender Brown]

13. I'm in Brooklyn

[2Design]

15. oh...i wouldn't go out in the day time there....

[Lavender Brown]

17. Nah

It's just fine during the day, the night is bad only when you're alone and not in a commercial area with lots of people around. (I have to pass a school to get to my building, and it's always deserted). Have you been to NYC and had a bad experience?

[supernova]

6. Not unless I have to

I will walk to my car in a well-lighted area, but I purposely don't walk around by myself at night.

[blueraven95]

7. It depends

on how far I'm going, how late at night it is, and the light in the area. I live in a fairly large city, on that has a reputation for having a lot of crime, but for the most part, I feel pretty safe. Of course, I would rather have someone walk with me, but as a single woman, I can't always count on having other people around to walk with me, and I refuse to be handicapped because of it. It doesn't hurt to know some self defense moves, and walk with a purpose. You don't want to take any unnecessary risks.

[TNDemo]

8. Not unless it is to run next door (close houses).

I asked my husband one time when he was working late if he was scared to go out to his car late at night in the parking garage. He said of course not. I said, what about getting on the elevator with some strange guy? He said it doesn't bother him. I told him that was the difference in men and women. It is always present in a woman's mind that if she is alone (especially at night) in a parking garage, a lonely street, in an elevator, she could be raped (and potentially killed).

[Kahuna]

9. No way in hell.

:scared:

[Iris]

11. 2 murders a month seems like a lot for a town that size.

I generally try not to avoid doing things because of fear, but 2 murders a month sounds like a lot.

What kind of dog do you have? I live in an urban environment with lots of vagrants and homeless people in the area. None of them will go near my dog.

[2Design]

16. in tidewater area....it seems they report a murder every night....

seems worse than nyc.....and when I used this web site for looking up info on cities....norfolk virginia was not the safest place and nyc came out safer per 100,000 than any place else, I checked...

[belladonna]

12. I don't worry about it that much

I'm a fatalist anyway, and I feel as long as I use common sense and follow my instincts, I'll be just fine. I went through a period of being scared to leave the house at night last year, was terrified at the prospect because of certain things that were going on in my life at the time.

Then one day I just got sick of it. I'm not hiding in my house from anybody anymore. Whatever happens, happens and I'll deal with it when it does.

[eyesroll]

14. Depends where I am

In my neighborhood, I'm OK with short walks in the dark -- like when I had to park my car on another block due to construction.

In most places, no. If I'm on business, and I can't see my hotel door from where I am, I'll take a taxi rather than walk alone.

But in Las Vegas, I wandered the strip alone in the dark and didn't feel unsafe at all. Oddly. (I guess it's because there are always throngs of people there.)

[Screaming Lord Byron]

18. Most of the women in my town do.

[slinkerwink]

19. no, I don't walk alone

Whenever I go out in the big Apple, I always make sure to go with a friend, and to use a taxi instead of the subway. Also, when I walk the dogs late at night, I'll take them out and walk half way around the block and back because it's well-lighted there with people out there walking. I don't like to go on the other side of the block because it's not well-lighted there. I never carry more than five bucks on me when I take the dogs out for a walk.

[niceperson]

20. yes

I live in new york. It depends on the neighborhood, but I generally feel safe, even at 2 in the morning

[2Design]

25. Welcome to DU

[niceperson]

37. thanks

[MuseRider]

21. No, not anymore.

I was grabbed in full daylight on a busy street and the guy attempted to pull me into his car. I am small but very strong and there was no way in hell he was getting me in there. I was also grabbed at a car wash while alone, again on a busy street but there was nobody else at the car wash at the time. I turned the sprayer on him and he left. Those two incidents have scared me into staying in at night (even though they happened during the day) and I hate it. I also never carry a purse anymore. Too many women get grabbed for their purse so I carry cash or a card in my pocket.

[2Design]

23. where are you.....sounds particularly unsafe

[MuseRider]

30. Topeka, Kansas

and we do have a lot of crime here. I do see women out walking at night or riding their bikes but many are with their dogs. I just have no desire to experience this again so I do not do it. I did have a friend grabbed and murdered about 20 years ago. It was brutal and that probably factors into my fear as well.

[2Design]

32. wow and I always thought of kansas as a safe place....

goes to show without jobs, money, and increase of drugs.....crime in usa is high....

we talk about terriorists elsewhere....and yet this country has a real crime problem....

and this admin has freed up the drug trafficking countries like afgan to go back to drugs.....because their aren't any jobs...

[Kali]

22. I live out West

Nobody walks anywhere, day or night. Well they WILL get in their SUV's and drive 40 or 50 miles to go for a HIKE...

[geniph]

24. Yes, of course I do

There are plenty of times when it's quite unavoidable. I do try to make sure that if I'm walking to my car, that I've thought ahead and parked it somewhere that isn't too skanky an area after dark, and I'm really good at going invisible when I need to. I used to come home from college at 11 p.m. on the city bus and had to walk through the deserted streets of downtown about 9 blocks to my apartment, back when I was 18 years old. I got followed, harassed, and my roommate was attacked. It taught me how to walk at night without attracting attention, and how to not look like a target.

There's also the matter of CWPs, but we won't go there.

[2Design]

26. where was college......share the how to walk part

you said you learned how to walk without attracting attention..can you share some of those details...

[geniph]

39. Seattle

which is no more nor less dangerous than any other city its size, although it does seem to have a higher-than-normal population of serial killers.

First off, when walking alone, don't be carrying a purse. If you have stuff to carry, use a backpack or something similar, but it's better not to carry anything; makes you less of a target. Stuff your things into pockets or have a bag that can go under your clothes if at all possible. Obviously, you want to dress as inconspicuously as possible. If you have long hair, it's not a bad idea to pin it up or tuck it into your shirt or under a baseball cap. Remove any eye-catching jewelry.

Walk briskly, with confident strides and as little jiggling as possible. Wear shoes you can run in, if you need to. Don't make eye contact with anyone. Move FAST, and move inconspicuously; blend in with any other people you are around. Don't look down; look alert, be aware of who's around you (including behind you), but don't keep snatching glances over your shoulder, either. Don't act macho; that just attracts the ones that like a challenge. Your goal is to look like an unattractive target, and to avoid notice as much as you can.

Get out of deserted areas as fast as possible. Run to a better area if you feel really abandoned. Try to plan a route that takes you on well-lit streets near businesses that are open. Cross the street or stop in the doorway of an open business if you think someone is following you. Don't walk too close to dark doorways or parked cars and such.

What I truly hate are abandoned parking garages. I really don't like going in them when I have my vagina with me. I feel like I should just hand over my wallet and slit my own throat. I prefer parking on the street.

The biggest thing most women need to get over is the fear of making a scene. If someone lays hands on you and you don't want them to, make NOISE. Yell, LOUDLY, "GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME RIGHT NOW!" It's amazing how many women cannot bring themselves to yell really loudly, even in extremis.

If you regularly have to walk alone in deserted areas, consider a CWP.

[2Design]

40. thanks I do much of this.....

Interesting that Seattle can be that way....

this country has become so much more dangerous in the last 20 years.

If we had jobs for everyone and equality.....

with the gap between rich and poor increasing this crime can only get worse and not better....

just like iraq, saudi arabia and afgan....they have no work....yet usa workers are there earning way too much money....and living rich lifestyles....

having some kind of equal footing...

I think that is why many european cities were safer to travel in...
people are covered for health care, they don't lose their house over sickness....they can find jobs most of the time...

this stuff has got to change....

[Kali]

47. ok I'm lame

What is CWP? Concealed Weapon Permit?

[geniph]

57. Yup.

I'm not a big fan of handguns in general, but I also used to work consulting jobs where I'd be going back to my car late at night, alone, in some damned dicey areas. There's something to be said for leveling the playing field a little. But anyone who carries a weapon without having been trained in its safe use is just asking to have it taken away from them and used against them, so I'm definitely in favor of anyone who gets a CWP also getting training.

[curse10]

27. Yep. In both major cities I've lived in. Denver and Boston

You just have to not be stupid and go into dark allies.

I know what streets are safe and which ones aren't and just steer clear of the ones that are shady.

Now, I don't get relaxed and assume nothing bad might happen. I'm always alert and very aware of my surroundings and am ready to cut and run at any moment.

[Interrobang]

28. Yes. And I live in a "bad neighbourhood."

"East of Adelaide" has a rep in my city, but it's really not as bad as all that. Yes, there are hookers and junkies in my neighbourhood, but I leave them alone and they leave me alone. (The central police station is also a block from my house. There are probably more narcs in this area than real druggies anyway.)

I like walking at night, especially when we have hot spells, and it only gets to a tolerable temperature around midnight or so. I recall one year (1998, IIRC) when it was still 34C at midnight!

[rumguy]

29. What a strange concept: being afraid to walk alone

I rarely have to worry about it.

[slinkerwink]

44. that's because you're a guy

you don't have to worry about being raped if you're walking alone at night as a woman.

[rumguy]

45. yeah I know that

I'm just saying it's kind of amazing to me. I just take it for granted, ya know?

It's a sad commentary on our world.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

31. all the time

god i love ny at night

[BadBush]

33. If I am familiar with the area

Otherwise no

[Donkeyboy75]

34. Dogs don't always help!

My wife recently got mugged while walking our dog in our neighborhood. He's a 60 pound boxer, and is pretty intimidating, but it appears the thief never saw the dog (at least not until he jumped out of his car). The whole thing happened way too quickly for him to react, and besides he's a wimp.

Although a dog is better than nothing, it's not a good idea to rely on them for protection. Please be safe out there.

[MuseRider]

35. I hope she is OK.

Things like this have a tendency to stay with you. I am hardly what anyone would consider a wimp but I really fear this kind of stuff now.

[Donkeyboy75]

36. She's fine. She was knocked to the ground, but wasn't hurt.

Thanks, though. It doesn't seem to have affected her, as she'll still walk the dog when I work past 10 (which I try not to do anymore), and doesn't carry nearly the $160 she had on her when she was mugged.

I think the fact that we're leaving Chicago in the next couple of months helps, too.

[Book Lover]

38. Yep

Here in sleepy Pacifica as well as back home in Queens in both "good" and "bad" neighborhoods. I am broad-shouldered and have a great bad attitude; one of the street rules of thumb we had when I was growing up was "Act crazier than the other guy."

[Insider]

41. sure

:shrug:

[Mobius]

42. Why are you looking for victims?

LMAO! and Yeah I do, no choice. If it's my time, it's my time. However, I feel sorry for the loser that tries to take me down, cuz he'd be one DEAD loser! :hi:

[Donkeyboy75]

53. Badass. n/t

[DrWeird]

43. I blame the media.

You're just as safe as you were ten years ago, it's just the media's more desperate for ratings.

[gpandas]

48. all part of the "keep 'em scared" routine...

too bad so few americans show knowledge of propaganda and probability

[chicaloca]

54. I blame the men who harass me on my way home n/t

[cally]

46. Rarely

I live in a very safe area but I rarely walk alone at night. A few times recently I took a walk very early in the morning. I was worried about other humans but instead I freaked at a 4 foot snake that blocked the path and a mountain lion I glimpsed. I don't go alone any more.

20 plus years ago when I was in college, everyone of my close friends was either raped or attempted rape. As a result, I'm extremely careful.

[GreenPartyVoter]

49. I live in a rural area.. fear skunks more than anything else. *l*

[TrustingDog]

50. in a city of about 600,000, no fear here...

call me crazy but there's a lot more scarier things out there than happenstance assault/murder stats. I take note but I am not afraid enough to not go out where I want to, when I want to.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

51. Yes

I lived in Portland without a car for ten years, and I frequently walked the two blocks from my bus stop to my apartment, as well as walking around downtown, as when coming home from concerts to catch a bus or train. I was never once hassled except by street people looking for handouts.

Here in Minneapolis, I am not afraid to walk to the store on a winter evening in my semi-affluent neighborhood, and the crime statistics bear me out. In the ten months I've lived here, the only reported crimes have been two car break-ins. When I take the bus downtown or to the so-called Uptown district, I'm not afraid to wait for the bus on a street corner, because there are people passing by all the time. In fact, I'd rather wait at a bus stop than walk to my car in a parking lot behind a building, which is the alternative when going to Uptown.

In New Haven, Connecticut, which is known as a high crime area, I walked and biked all over, day and night.

I firmly believe that our fear of walking alone is a deliberately induced tool of social control, and I have believed so ever since I lived in Japan. To the extent that our streets are unsafe, they are unsafe precisely because all the law-abiding peopl are cowering inside their houses. It can be really pathetic at times. I had a relative who was afraid to take her garbage out at night, and she lived in a wealthy suburb, well off the main road. She didn't even want to let me take the garbage out for her.

If people are at home all evening instead of on the street, interacting with their neighbors, as they used to do here and as they still do in other countries, they're so much easier to control.

Do I worry about my safety? Well, I wouldn't go into any obviously creepy areas, but on the whole, I know that I'm much more likely to be involved in a car crash while driving for "safety" than I am to be a crime victim.

[Nikia]

52. When my husband is not home

I have to walk my dog at night. I get nervous about it. I am new to this area, but there aren't really any stranger murders around here. I haven't heard about any stranger rapists in town either. There are lots of houses around us as well as an assisted living home. My little dog wouldn't provide much protection but he always barks if he sees someone, which alrets me. If I don't know them, I keep a careful watch on them the whole time.

[SW FL Dem]

55. It depends

I live in a pretty safe, gated neighborhood. In the cooler months there are lots of people out and about so I feel safe walking the dogs at night. During the hot and humid season I don't leave the house after dusk, not out of fear of muggings, I just don't want to be eaten alive by the mosquitoes.

[Carolina]

56. No fucking way ...

too many years doing forensic pathology and seeing what happens IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.

My husband calls me "the-worst-case-scenario" lady and I really am:

No parking garages at night and, if at all possible, none in the day either

No lonely highways at night (your car breaks down, you're a sitting duck for the good, the bad and the ugly)

When repairman/maintenance/service people are necessary, keep doors open (for ready escape) and the telephone in hand (I know of a woman killed by the house painter).

If I go on, I'll sound really paranoid, but I always scan the horizon, so to speak, when I am out and about noting peoples' behavior and demeanor. And never let a stranger get within grab distance. One poster above mentioned that when she was grabbed, she fought so as not to be carried off in a car. She's right, fight to the death right there. Once you're in a predator's car, you're a goner anyway and before they kill you, they do horrible things. I've seen it :scared:

Practice acting out, yelling, shouting, whatever so that you won't be scared speechless if the need ever arises. Self defense classes are really good for this and for preparation for assorted contingencies.

Regarding concealed weapons, remember not to get a false sense of security because you're packing heat. I've known armed detectives who got robbed when someone got the drop on them. But if you travel great distances alone a lot (say by car) and have to stay in strange hotels (like motor lodges), by all means get a weapon.

Gee, I guess I better stop now ...

[rbnyc]

58. I used to...

...but I was attacked a couple years ago, so I don't walk alone after midnight anymore.

BTW, I fought off my attacker until he ran away. All he got was a good grope.

[rbnyc]

59. BTW

I do know a man who was gang-raped by a group of men and WOMEN when he was walking home from work alone one night. And I know lots of guys who've been mugged, so this question could go to men too.

[rinsd]

60. I don't let any of my female friends walk alone at night if possible.

I don't think of myself as bad ass. I just think having a large guy escorting small women(most of my female friends I dwarf by almost a foot and 100 lbs) at night makes it less likely they will be attacked.

A friend on mine just moved because she bartends and had only off street parking in her old apartment. Sometimes she had to walk a few blocks in the 2 to 3 am timeframe.

[Bridget Burke]

61. Yes.

I usually take the bus to work & it's sometimes dark when I get home. Actually, it's often dark in the morning--are the crooks out at 5 AM? My neighborhood is pretty safe but I'd avoid walking down by the bayou after dark.

Downtown Houston has gotten livelier at night, as well. Rule of thumb--are there lots of people around?

[Cleita]

62. I stay in after dark unless I absolutely have to go outside, but

not because I am afraid of human predators. It's the creepy critters with many legs and wings that I am avoiding.

[Cheswick2.0]

63. I live in a town of 5000

Hell yes I walk alone at night. There is a small city near me, population 76,000 and I walk there too.
But there is nothing wrong with being careful.