More than half of women in London feel unsafe exercising alone after dark, according to new research by the This Girl Can campaign. The campaign's Let's Lift the Curfew movement found that 54 per cent of women in the capital feel unsafe exercising outdoors alone after dark, with 69 per cent concerned about sexual harassment or intimidation.
By comparison, just 30 per cent of men in London feel unsafe exercising outdoors alone after dark. The campaign argues that earlier sunsets at this time of year bring about a "hidden curfew" for many women, who change or stop their outdoor exercise routines altogether after the clocks go back.
Runners Share Their Experiences
Jenny Mannion, founder of the London women's running club Runners and Stunners, said women "don't feel safe after dark anywhere." The 33-year-old told MyLondon: "I have quite quickly come to realise how many women don't feel safe running in the winter. I'm at run club every week and there's countless stories about women being harassed on runs."
Mannion, who has twice run the London Marathon, said she has only run in the dark once in the past year because of safety concerns. "Me personally, I'm in a unique situation where I'm self employed [now], so I'm kind of able to run whenever I want. I think there has been one time in a year that I have run in the dark, because my honest opinion is I won't feel safe to go."
Her club will start hosting runs mid-week in January to help women train when it's dark. Mannion also recalled meeting a woman who had been attacked while running in broad daylight. "The problem is men, at all times, every day," she said.
Nationwide Impact of the "Hidden Curfew"
Nationally, This Girl Can found that women take extra precautions in autumn and winter. One in three women who change their outdoor exercise routine choose to exercise earlier when there's less daylight, while 24 per cent avoid exercising alone and 11 per cent stop exercising outdoors entirely after dark.
The research also found that 61 per cent of women agree that concerns about personal safety can be a bigger barrier to exercising outdoors than factors such as bad weather, lack of time or lack of motivation.
Ana Hancock, a running coach who works for the community organisation GoodGym in Wandsworth and Hounslow, said: "I love running and it's a huge part of my routine for both mental and physical health, but when the clocks change, I automatically start planning routes differently and thinking about things many men never have to consider.
"I'll avoid certain paths, let someone know where I am and make sure I have a fully charged phone to hand. It's frustrating because exercise is supposed to give you freedom, yet for me and so many other women, at this time of year it comes with a mental checklist and potentially some vulnerability attached to it."
Campaign Calls for Change
Kate Dale, This Girl Can's director of marketing, said: "Every year when the clocks go back, countless women find their worlds getting smaller, and many change or step away from exercise altogether because of fear.
"Women's fears are growing, with more concern about harassment and intimidation than we saw three years ago; many women believe rising online misogyny is making them feel even less safe exercising after dark.
"Police have warned violence against women and girls is reaching epidemic levels, so it's more important than ever that we understand women's experiences and address the rising safety concerns."
Women can join Runners and Stunners for free by following the group on Strava or Instagram. The club usually holds runs in Central and South West London every Saturday.
