To expand on this - I prefer not to let my fiancée walk around outside by herself at night, but the same goes for me. It’s far less foot traffic where we are, anyhow, and less accessible to places you’d want to go. That’s not to say that we haven’t walked at dusk from the Henderson Hopkins School area to Fells, but it’s not often, and we try not to.

Having lived in various parts of the city though (Mt. Vernon, Charles Village, Station North, Bolton Hill, Milton-Montford (or Station East, depending on who you ask)), I would say to minimize risk as a woman walking by yourself, and avoid that. If not possible, like others said, be aware of your surroundings, don’t have headphones on, keep your phone out of sight and your hands in your pockets, and just go about your way. FTR, I would do this at night myself, as a bigger man, whether I’m in Baltimore, Manhattan, Boston, LA, or wherever. Habit, maybe, but I’ve been fine at all of those places in my 20+ years of adult life and have never been caught unawares or in a bad situation.