Have you ever felt unsafe walking home after a night out? BUzz reporter Libby Evans looks at a new initiative set up by a pioneering woman in Bournemouth.
The app Footbus has been created for students to walk together in a group (like a bus) to feel safer after a night out.
When people drink I think it’s safe to say that some of us feel invincible. You may sometimes think that after a night out in Cameo, you will be fine to walk the familiar roads and paths back to your accommodation, but you forget that the world is a scary place- especially if you are by yourself.
The app enables individuals to make a group on the app and share walking routes at certain times with friends – this means you never have to walk by yourself. It’s an easy way to make walking plans without back-and-forth texting on different social media platforms.
Women feel more unsafe walking home at night according to the YouGov poll for the BBC. 66% of women say they feel unsafe walking at night ‘sometimes’, in comparison to only 16% of men who said the same thing.
Nicky Robinson, the creator of the app, said: “You never have to walk alone after a night out or a late-night study session, it’s a tool to contact lots of people at once, someone may be walking the same route as you and this means you can walk together and be safe.
“If at least one person uses Footbus and gets home safe that’s all I ask,” Nicky said.
Nicky who works part-time at the student union at Bournemouth University came up with the idea for Footbus when she spoke to a student who was worried about walking back from university in the dark by herself. The student stated that she always texted her mother what she was wearing in case the worst happened on the journey home. This image sat with Nicky and she couldn’t get the thought out of her head, the idea of Footbus was born.
Nicky said: “When Sarah Everard died, lots of safety apps were created, I didn’t like the thought of women walking by themselves clinging to their phones on an app by themselves, so I thought with my app you can walk in a group and have fun together! With Footbus you can connect with your friends and know you will be safer walking together in the dark. However, the app is also great not just for walking in the dark but to plan walks with friends in the daytime, taking breaks from studying and getting some fresh air is crucial.” Nicky added: “Footbus promotes being healthy and having fun with friends!”
“Save money if you usually get a uber/taxi and save feeling unsafe walking by yourself by downloading Footbus,” Nicky Robinson said.
If you want to feel safer walking at night with friends then you can download the app Footbus at any app store!
What do you think?
I will be writing more articles about stories around the Bournemouth area, including feminism, diversity and equality.
Have a story you want me to tell? Drop me a message at s5420623@bournemouth.ac.uk
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