Local female runners, including those traversing the popular Kangaroo Point circuit, are increasingly shunning solitary exercise as a rise in verbal harassment makes them fear for their personal safety in their own neighbourhoods.
The ordeal began at 5:30 am on a Monday, 6 July 2026, in the Redlands, but the ripples of this encounter have moved quickly through the wider Brisbane community. A local mother of two found herself being pursued by a car while on her usual route, subjected to a barrage of offensive comments that made her genuinely fear she would not see her family again.
Reporting the event proved almost as traumatic as the harassment itself. After a previous attempt to involve police resulted in her being told the offender was harmless, she was forced to navigate three separate phone calls and multiple stations before finding an officer willing to take her details.
Why should a morning jog require such high levels of hyper-vigilance? Katie Dall, a professional running coach and the director of Club KT, sees the answer in the faces of the women she trains. Between her sessions at the Teneriffe Athletic Club and her own community programs, she hears the same stories repeated across the city.
Many women have reached a point where they refuse to exercise alone after dark, choosing to train in packs instead. This isn’t just a preference; it is a defensive strategy. Even during the broad daylight of a Tuesday morning, runners are left scanning the road, measuring the distance to the next shop, and mentally preparing for the moment a vehicle might slow down alongside them.
Experts in the field argue that the current approach—which places the responsibility of safety onto the individual runner—is fundamentally flawed. While carrying a phone or choosing well-lit paths are common safety tips, they do little to solve the underlying issues causing this intimidation. Queensland Police have issued a brief statement affirming that everyone deserves to feel safe and that they treat reports of suspicious behaviour with seriousness.
Yet, for many, the damage to their peace of mind is already done. Between the constant “looking over their shoulder” and the conscious choices regarding what to wear or where to run, the joy of the sport is being stripped away. These women are simply asking for the freedom to exercise in their own city without the shadow of fear trailing them every step of the way.
Published Date 13-July-2026
