Exploring Safety Concerns Among Women Runners in the Netherlands
SOURCE: RUN HER WAY
In early 2024, Run Her Way surveyed with over 120 women runners in the Netherlands to better understand their experiences and safety concerns while running, and to collect feedback on the types of interventions and solutions they valued most.
What you should know:
Most respondents were aged 18-59, providing insights across different life stages.
76% of women run multiple times a week, with mornings (42%) and evenings (32%) being the most popular.
73% of female runners said the safety of their running environments could improve, most frequently citing poorly lit areas, isolated routes, and encounters with strangers.
82% of respondents emphasized the importance of municipalities in addressing running safety concerns, such as by improving lighting, maintaining clear paths, and running public safety campaigns.
What runners want:
Better lighting: The top request was for improved lighting in parks and isolated areas.
Safe route mapping: Runners want access to tools that highlight well-lit, populated, and patrolled routes.
Increased patrols and emergency systems: There’s a strong desire for more police patrols and quicker emergency response options, like the placement of call boxes on routes or panic buttons on apps.
Public awareness campaigns about respecting others and reporting harassment: Runners called for education and anti-harassment programs aimed at tackling the root cause or runner abuse.
Community intervention: Runners suggested the development of community-based programs to exchange experiences with each other, the municipality, and the police, as well as community running groups to boost safety.
Learn more: Insights from our first runner survey
