Lifting The Winter Curfew (by being supportive, not scary)

What is the Winter Curfew?

It’s the dark time of the year, with the short days meaning that early morning or evening runs are likely to be taking place in the dark. The chances are that the women members of Lonely Goat Running Club are more aware of the lack of daylight hours than the men. If you’re unable to run in the middle of the day, and don’t feel safe running in the dark, winter is a tricky time to be a runner. Research by This Girl Can found that almost three quarters of women in the UK change their outdoor activity routines during the winter. Sunset can feel like a curfew that prevents you from running.

Lifting the Winter Curfew

‘Let’s lift the curfew’ is an annual campaign that highlights women’s concerns about getting active outdoors in the darker months. As well as the usual advice to women about trying to stay safe – run in groups, wear reflective or light coloured clothing, stick to well lit areas, tell someone where you’re going – the campaign makes the point that It’s unfair to put all the responsibility for safety on the most potentially vulnerable people. Everyone can help.

How to help

It would be extra helpful if men could also think about women’s safety, so the following advice is shared with men in mind. The Lonely Goat Running Club membership, affectionately referred to as the “Herd,” is a wonderful, supportive community, and we hope you read this advice in the collegiate manner in which it is intended…

Don’t be accidentally scary

Wearing dark clothes and running behind someone is going to make them feel unsafe, even if that’s not your intention. Stay back, give space, and cross over to the other side of the road so you’re not following them. On a similar note, avoid sudden swoopy overtaking manoeuvres, or making people jump, on dark paths.

Striking up a conversation with a stranger may seem like a friendly thing to do, but think about it from the other person’s point of view. It could feel intimidating to someone on their own in the dark, so please keep your comments to yourself.

Be a good ally

Beyond running, please don’t let sexist or misogynist behaviour go unchallenged. If friends or family are being disrespectful about women, and it feels safe for you to say something, let them know that it’s not OK. Break the cycle.

Ask friends or family if there is anything you can do to help them feel more comfortable running in the dark. They might appreciate your company as a running buddy.

If you’re an employer, be flexible with working hours so your team can run during daylight hours.

Be an active bystander

If you notice someone being harassed, intimidated, or attacked, there are things you can do to help. Police forces have advice on being an “active bystander”, called the 5 D’s:

• Distract the abuser. You could ask them for directions.
• Delegate. Seek help from the police, other person in authority, or another bystander like yourself.
• Document. If you’re not comfortable intervening, take notes on the time, date, location, and details of any incident in way that it safe to do so. Afterwards, ask the person what they would like to do with the notes.
• Delay. If you can’t intervene in the moment, hang back and check they’re OK afterwards.
• Direct. Confront the harasser only if you feel safe doing so. You can also directly engage with the victim by asking if they need help.

Of course, if anyone is in immediate danger, call 999 (or whatever the emergency services number is where you are).

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A version of this article originally appeared in Goat Mail, our email newsletter for all members of the Lonely Goat Running Club. If you didn’t receive it, but would like to, sign up using the My Account section at the top of the page.