'I just want to be able to go outside' — woman calls for safer Hamilton trails

After a recent sexual assault on the Bruce Trail sent one woman to hospital, Amanda Pocha is getting ready to present a petition to the City of Hamilton demanding greater safety measures along Hamilton's urban trails.

She's got almost a thousand signatures. 

She's asking politicians to consider motion sensor lighting, and emergency phones that directly connect to 911 operators — like the phones seen on school campuses.

Pocha, an avid runner and ambassador for Happy Trails, points out that not all runners carry a cell phone with them.

"I just want to be able to go outside. I want to be able to have my friends go outside and just be safe," said Pocha.

With both the event and online petition, Pocha is uniting women in the community that she says, just want to be outside and feel safe.

"I guess I have created a movement," said Pocha.

'Stop violence against women'

Despite Friday's rainy weather, she says about 500 people came out to the run/hike.

"I felt that it really validated the need to do this," said Pocha. "To get women together, to meet people, and to bring the community together so that they could have others that like to enjoy outside spaces together."

The group gathered at Chedoke Golf Course before heading out on the Chedoke Radial Trail, where participants could walk or run. Some even brought signs that read messages like, "stop violence against women."

"It was such a strong community-based event. Everyone was very grateful to be out there and just occupying that space and showing their support," said Pocha.

Pocha says that a lot of women reported back to her saying that they've made new running buddies — one of her goals of the event.

"That's sad that we can't even go outside during the day and run 5 kilometres by ourselves," said Pocha.

The event was planned after Hamilton police say a woman who was jogging along the trail near the Dundurn Stairs was attacked by a man on April 10 around 4 p.m. when the woman stopped after she heard someone calling out.

When she stopped, police say she was struck, then assaulted.

The woman was injured in the attack, but was treated at a hospital and then released.

Friday's event purposely started when the alleged incident took place at 4 p.m., says Pocha.

Bringing the community together

Along with the hundreds of men, women, children and dogs, Pocha says there were several Hamilton business owners and members of the Hamilton Police Service.

"More presence on these trails from the police would be a welcomed sight for a lot of people, I'm sure," said Pocha.

As part of the event t-shirts and magnets were sold with proceeds going towards SACHA, a non-profit, community-based organization that provides support to people who have experienced sexualized violence in the Hamilton area.

According to Pocha, about $800 was raised from the sales.

"Honestly, this whole thing has really exceeded all expectations that I've had. I just really wanted to bring community together and show support, and make a bit of a change."

Pocha says she's hoping to make the run an annual event.