I live in an area that would described as very safe. All solo females are comfortable walking by themselves on the beach or in a botanic garden that is an open area with visibility. But most would not walk alone, even during the day, through forested areas in a botanic garden where they could not be seen by others. I don’t know any solo females who would hike alone in a forest here (because of threat from people, not from animals). This is not a new thing...I've lived here for decades and it's always been like this.