When winter rolls in and the sun dips early, stretching the evenings into long shadows, a story quietly repeats itself. Women share online and in print why their evening runs can’t happen anymore because venturing out after work feels dangerous.
Women across the world share their fears online and in print. Many have stopped running after work or after dark, citing the risks of harassment and intimidation. According to a 2021 survey by the Office for National Statistics, 81% of women reported feeling unsafe walking alone or in parks after dark, compared to just 39% of men.
Research from Sport England highlights the practical impact: around three-quarters of women adjust their outdoor activity routines in winter. Meanwhile, a study by This Girl Can found that 60% worry about sexual harassment or intimidation when exercising in the dark.
And these concerns are not unfounded. An international survey by Adidas of 4,500 women aged 16–34 revealed that 30% reported harassment either verbal or physical while running. A separate survey by the University of Manchester of 498 female runners found 68% had experienced some form of inappropriate behavior, with verbal abuse accounting for 91% of incidents, 29% experiencing being followed, and 10% facing other forms of harassment.
Alarmingly, 20 respondents reported being physically or sexually attacked while running. In nearly all cases (95%), women did not report these incidents to the police, highlighting a lack of confidence in authorities to take meaningful action.
Yet, despite these fears, data does not show a definitive increase in crime after dark. A report by the Greater London Authority indicates that people in London are not more likely to be victims of crime at night than during the day. A UK study by the University of Sheffield analyzed 34,618 crimes in South Yorkshire (2010–2019) and found that while some crimes like theft, criminal damage, personal robbery, bicycle theft, and vehicle crime were slightly more likely after dark, sexual offenses were not.
This discrepancy between perception and reality reflects a natural human instinct: darkness triggers caution. But daylight is no guarantee of safety either. The tragic killings of many females remind us that violent attacks can occur at any time, even in broad daylight. In fact, over 90% of sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows—friends, colleagues, family members, or partners.
Interestingly, when it comes to “stranger danger,” men are statistically at greater risk than women, challenging common assumptions about outdoor safety.
Despite these complexities, initiatives like This Girl Can’s Let’s Lift the Curfew campaign are helping to raise awareness and empower women to stay active safely during darker months. Research in 2023 found that nearly three-quarters (72%) of women in the UK change their outdoor activity routines during winter, underscoring the need for continued attention to women’s safety.
Runners themselves continue to report incidents of catcalling, harassment, and intimidation, showing that while the data may challenge assumptions about darkness and crime, the lived experience of women exercising outdoors cannot be ignored.
As winter stretches on and shadows grow longer, the message is clear: the conversation about women’s safety, both in daylight and after dark, is far from over. Ensuring women feel safe running or simply being outdoors requires not only awareness but action, community support, and societal change.
