IT is getting dark early, now. How many women walk quickly, no earphones, keys in hand, ready to defend themselves? How many men, I wonder, have made seasonal changes to their travel habits?

In response to multiple alleged sexual assaults on campus in the past few weeks, Glasgow University (pictured) has issued rape alarms and student societies are giving advice that women should walk in pairs.

The thing is, we already know this. We know which roads have bad lighting. We know which bus stops to avoid, and whether to get off late or early. We know which underpasses are unpassable beyond 3pm in winter. We know when to speed up, slow down, cross the road, pretend to be on the phone, use window reflections to see if we’re being followed. This isn’t just when there are reported assaults – it’s normal.

The first time I was yelled at with sexual innuendos from men in a van was at a bus stop in my school uniform. I was 12. This is routine. Routine harassment, routine fear, for our whole damn lives.

I’m tired of it. I’m tired of the onus being on women to take preventative measures. I’m tired of the diversions women take to feel less unsafe. Women can’t be expected to just not be outside.

The other week I got a police briefing for elected representatives on safety in the current climate, and it said things like “don’t be on your own” and “don’t walk in dark areas”. I sat in disbelief wondering how I could possibly do my job as a local councillor otherwise.

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Where are the posts teaching our sons the kind of tactics we’ve taught our daughters? That when it’s dark and there’s someone in front of you, you need to cross the road? That at night nobody can see your charming, harmless personality so you need to be aware of how you look to a stranger? That you should never ask a woman for directions at night?

I once got stopped at midnight by three men asking how to get to Matalan – as I backed away and gave silent thanks to be wearing shoes I could run in, they let me go. I don’t care how lost you are, it’s not reason enough to give me (at best!)

an adrenaline spike that will keep me awake until the sun comes up.

Universities and institutions must take seriously their obligation to hold young men to account. Council departments must understand that underpasses are not reasonable, accessible ways to make more room for cars. Broken lights must be fixed with the urgency that this deserves. If flooding made a road impassable, it wouldn’t be routine maintenance. When it comes to lighting, when half the population can’t use that route because it’s not safe, why are women seen to be causing a fuss?

It’s everybody’s job to make Glasgow somewhere women feel safe – this shouldn’t be left for women to fix.