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More than half of women feel unsafe exercising alone after dark

26th October 2026

Let's Lift the Curfew returns to raise awareness of women’s safety concerns when being active during the darker months – with new research showing those fears have grown.

As the clocks go back this autumn, the hidden curfew on women’s freedom to be active after dark remains firmly in place – and we’re once again calling for it to end.

Our new research reveals that more than half (55%) of women feel unsafe exercising outdoors alone after dark, compared to only a third (33%) of men.

Worryingly, women’s safety concerns have grown over recent years, with more than two thirds of women (69%) concerned about sexual harassment and intimidation when exercising outdoors after dark, compared with 60% in 2023. That has to change.

Runners pose in front of glow-in-the-dark footprints at night in Manchester.

It’s why the Let’s Lift the Curfew movement is back for a fourth year, bringing together women, community groups, sports clubs, organisations and allies to raise awareness of the fears and barriers many women face at this time of year.

Our director of marketing, Kate Dale, 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.  

“We’re here to help more people understand the everyday reality many women face and raise awareness of what women need to feel safer.”
 

What else did the research find?

Surveys conducted on our behalf earlier this month by Censuswide, involving 1,000 women and 1,000 men aged 16+, found:

Over two thirds of women (67%) agree that women’s safety when exercising outdoors has worsened in recent years.

Over two thirds (67%) agreed that the increase in online misogyny and anti-women attitudes has made women feel even less safe outdoors – with more than half (52%) of women fearing being followed after dark.

As a result, many women take extra precautions in autumn and winter:

  • one in three (34%) women who change their outdoor exercise routine or habits due to less daylight choose to exercise earlier
  • 24% avoid exercise alone
  • one in nine (11%) shared their location with someone before heading out
  • women are also over three times more likely than men to stop exercising outdoors entirely after dark (11% vs 3%).

Personal safety is now becoming a greater barrier to exercise outdoors after dark than other common challenges for many women; almost three in five (61%) 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.

  • Men’s attitudes towards women’s safety fears

    The research also revealed a lack of awareness among men of the challenges women face when exercising after dark. 

    Nearly half (47%) admit they underestimate how much women think about their safety when exercising outdoors after dark, while 48% recognise they have to think about their own safety less than women do when exercising after dark.

    Encouragingly, 58% of men believe they have a role to play in helping women feel safer when exercising outdoors and almost half (46%) say they have consciously changed their behaviour when passing a woman after dark because they do not want her to feel uncomfortable.

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  • What women want to feel safe

    Women are clear about what would help them feel safer. 

    The top measures to make women feel comfortable exercising outdoors after dark in 2026 remain unchanged – but women's desire for them have increased since 2023.

    Better lighting has seen the biggest increase (55% vs 36% in 2023) – while 'someone knowing where I am and/or how long I’m going to be out' (38% vs 27% in 2023) or 'being part of an exercise group' (38% vs 22% in 2023) are the other top two measures.

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How to get involved this year

Since launching in 2023, Let’s Lift the Curfew has grown into a nationwide movement that aims to raise awareness, give women a voice and drive change.

This autumn, with support from England Athletics, GoodGym and community partners nationwide, 438 walks, runs and activities will take place across the UK to raise awareness of women’s safety fears and the changes we all want.

We’re encouraging women across the country to sign up and join the movement, while inviting organisations to host their own Let’s Lift the Curfew activity and register it on a national map, to help women find opportunities near them, as well as accessing practical guidance on creating welcoming, inclusive and supportive experiences.

So far, more than 16,100 people have registered for this year's Let's Lift the Curfew activities.

A group of women runners stand in a semi-circle under a clock tower at night, while someone to the side talks on a loudspeaker.

This year, Birmingham will host the national showcase Let’s Lift the Curfew run on Thursday 26 October.

Taking place at The Malt House from 6pm to 9pm, the evening will feature guest speakers including five-time Olympian Jo Pavey MBE and England Athletics CEO Chris Jones, before participants will start a series of staggered social runs from 6:30pm onwards.

Pavey said: “Women deserve the freedom to get out and be active all year round and to continue to enjoy the benefits it brings.

“That’s why the Let’s Lift the Curfew campaign is so important. It’s great that it raises awareness of this issue and makes a call for action.

“It’s encouraging that many women are clear about what would help them feel safer and these measures need to be addressed.

“Of course, women naturally take precautions. But safety shouldn’t solely be about women altering their routine. Creating safer public spaces and environments for people to feel safer when exercising at whatever time is so necessary.  

“It’s also important to support communities that provide opportunities for people to exercise together. This Girl Can and England Athletics, through their RunTogether groups, provide such great opportunities for people to enjoy keeping active.” 
 

Further reaction

Ana Hancock, running coach and GoodGym area activator

“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. 

"That's why campaigns like Let’s Lift the Curfew matter, because they help people understand these aren’t rare experiences and we need to change that.”

Find out more

Find a local Let's Lift the Curfew event or register your own activity.

Let's Lift the Curfew