Brisbane Women Speak Out: Terrifying Encounters While Running Uncover Widespread Harassment Crisis

A morning run turned into a nightmare for a Brisbane mother of two, sparking a wider conversation about the safety of women exercising in public spaces.

At approximately 5:30am on Monday, Kate was on her usual morning route through the Redlands. While jogging along the dark streets of Birkdale, she noticed a vehicle tailing her closely.

"The person in the car wound down their window and they were saying some very awful things to me," she said.

While she had faced street harassment in the past, this particular encounter left her fearing for her life.

"I actually thought, 'You know what, I think today is going to be the day and I might not make it home to my family today,'" she recalled.

The pursuit only ended when Kate ran toward a group of nearby shops, which spooked the driver and caused him to speed away.

Despite the severity of the incident, Kate hesitated to contact authorities due to past frustrations. "I've had some experiences before with reporting these types of things where my concerns haven't been taken seriously," she explained. "So I was hesitant to report this again."

In a previous incident, police told her the man involved was "harmless". This time, she contacted Policelink and was instructed to file a report in person at a station.

"It took a little while until I found a station and an officer who actually took my details," Kate said. "It took three police officers and three separate phone calls to have that happen."

A Widespread Issue for Female Runners

Kate's experience is far from isolated. Jan, a resident of Redcliffe who has maintained an active lifestyle for over six decades, revealed she refuses to exercise alone in the dark.

"When I was doing team sports we used to all train as a pack … and that's the only way you could do it," Jan said. "And that's been going on for 60 years."

Katie Dall, founder of the Newstead-based Club KT Walk Run Club, stated that harassment of female runners in Brisbane is a frequent occurrence, making the city feel unsafe for women exercising alone. She advised female runners to avoid areas like South Bank and Kangaroo Point after dark, noting that safety concerns persist even in daylight.

"I don't feel like there's any really safe place now … even during the day you have to be careful," Ms Dall said. "I've had my own experiences where a car has slowed down while I've been out running on my own near New Farm Park and you literally have to be like thinking about, 'OK, what do I do next?'"

Ms Dall, who established her club in 2021 to foster community connection during the pandemic, noted that some women now carry personal alarms. She called on law enforcement to do more to prevent harassment and raise awareness, rather than expecting women to alter their routines. "I don't like to say to women, 'Don't run there', because why should we have to change our behaviour?" she said.

Shifting the Burden of Safety

Criminology experts agree that the responsibility for safety should not rest on the victims. Dr. Bianca Fileborn, an associate professor of criminology at the University of Melbourne, argued that the focus must shift.

"The emphasis needs to be on the people or the men who are engaging in this behaviour in the first place," Dr. Fileborn said. While safety measures like carrying a phone or sharing routes can provide peace of mind, she noted there is little evidence they prevent harassment. "It comes back to challenging and undoing the structural and the cultural and social drivers of gender-based violence," she added.

For Kate, the fear remains a constant presence. Even before Monday, she took extensive physical precautions. "I wear my hair in a bun so my ponytail can't be pulled. I wear a tight shirt so my shirt can't be grabbed," she said. "I shouldn't be living my life like that."

After sharing her ordeal online, Kate received a flood of supportive messages from other women with similar experiences. "The harrowing thing is that nearly every woman who has commented on the post or reached out to me personally, this has happened to," she said. "This behaviour shouldn't be normalised."

In a statement, police confirmed they are aware of the incident. "Everyone has the right to feel safe," a spokesperson said. "The QPS is focused on ensuring community safety and takes reports of suspicious behaviour seriously."

A spokesperson for the Redland City Council added that they recognize the significance of safe public spaces and collaborate regularly with police to promote community and personal safety.