It’s suspicious because it’s generally dangerous to walk around alone at night in large cities.
It also depends on the area, though. And I would also say just because you’re approached by the police doesn’t mean you’re being suspicious. I’ve been pulled over by police before just because they wanted to let me know it was a dangerous area (I wasn’t from the area).
Edit: I really hope that downvote came from a European or non-American. /s
As an American (and been here my entire life), what I posted above is very accurate to what I have observed.
Maybe in other parts of the country it’s different but in the cities I’m most intimate with (Atlanta, Memphis, Jackson), this is definitely the case.
"It’s suspicious because it’s generally dangerous to walk around alone at night in large cities."
I didn't downvote you, though I thought your comment really needed a citation.
However, it's also probably true, given how often people are killed by drivers at night. It depends on a lot on the city. Similarly the suburbs are pretty dangerous when you consider road deaths and not just violent crime (though in places with presumed liability, operating your car unsafely _is_ a crime).
When I lived in Santa Monica walking across Wilshire blvd. at night was especially dangerous (25 mph limit but people routinely went 45mph+), and pedestrians were (and are) killed on a regular basis. My understanding is at least one of the cities you named (Atlanta) is considered a poster child in how to design a city to be dangerous for walking.
However, if you've walked in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, etc. at night you'll know a large city can be a lovely place for a night stroll.
I am an American who has lived in the EU for 6 years, fwiw.
This is very accurate. I've been approached by police twice in Miami, letting me know that I am entering a dangerous nieghbourhood - which I thought it was the city center.
Another time they didn't let me drive further, when they saw that we were a bunch of clueless europeans.
This only applies to cities where walking isn't a default way to get around. Walking around most parts of NYC is perfectly safe at night in part because the presence of other pedestrians deters crime.
It depends where you are walking if you want a realistic answer. Lots of people walk around denser areas at night with commercial stores/nightlife and residential areas near transportation. Walking around the suburbs when it’s 12am and there is nothing open is probably going to raise suspicions because it’s uncommon and there’s not many places to walk home from other than a friend’s house. (Not to mention it’s dangerous with all the people speeding/not paying attention to the roads when less cars out at night). IMO, I would say the more empty an area is the more suspicious it would be to walk around at night. There’s legitimate reasons to walk around at night like going for a stroll or walking a dog, but for the most part police would stop you to let you know “you do know this is risky?” and let you go on your way as long as you don’t seem like you are planning some criminal activity or acting erratically. Plus, it lessens their chances of having to go help someone out of trouble if they just advise that person reevaluate their decision.
It also depends on the area, though. And I would also say just because you’re approached by the police doesn’t mean you’re being suspicious. I’ve been pulled over by police before just because they wanted to let me know it was a dangerous area (I wasn’t from the area).
Edit: I really hope that downvote came from a European or non-American. /s
As an American (and been here my entire life), what I posted above is very accurate to what I have observed.
Maybe in other parts of the country it’s different but in the cities I’m most intimate with (Atlanta, Memphis, Jackson), this is definitely the case.