[+] Designing Safer Cities for Women

Bustling cultural metropolises and thriving night-time economies make up a big part of every city plan in Australia. But the grim reality is two out of three women feel unsafe in public spaces at night and avoid travelling alone after dark or “take precautions”. The solution could be as simple as flicking the switch to light up those dingy streets. Recent research is indicating city planning and urban design can go a long way to countering this perception of danger. According to a Safer Cities Survey report, released by the NSW government last month, a survey of almost 5000 respondents found that if people felt safe in public spaces they would use public and active travel more regularly, and engage in a city’s night-time economy. It is part of the NSW government’s $30-million Safer Cities program. Respondents reported the top five ways they chose their walking route at night were: whether it was well-lit what time of day it was whether there were other people around clear sightlines, and a well-maintained public space. The Safer Cities Survey report found that women were twice as likely to feel unsafe at night in public spaces as men and felt safest in activated public spaces with lots of people around. It’s not rocket science, but city planners still seem to be missing the mark when it comes to night-time activation and safety. New South Wales Safer Cities survey results NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen says “feeling safe shouldn’t be dependent on your gender. Everyone has a right to feel safe in public spaces”. The Safer Cities program is delivering place-based projects through partnerships with 10 pilot councils across NSW. These partnerships will deliver on-the-ground projects that test ways to improve perceptions of safety when moving in and through public spaces. The interventions are being shaped by co-design and engagement with local women and girls to ensure they reflect the character and needs of the local context. Poorly planned urbanisation widens the gap Built environment consultancy Arup has also focused on the public safety of women and children. It commissioned two pieces of research into designing safer and more inclusive cities as part of its Cities Alive initiative. The reports were produced in partnership with the United Nations Development Program and the University of Liverpool to help shape future cities across the globe. It draws on women and girls’ experiences and perceptions of safety in public spaces across Melbourne and Sydney. Arup’s Queensland urban design market leader for cities Shy Tay says the absence of inclusive planning can lead to poor social outcomes. “Cities act as pivotal hubs of innovation, productivity, opportunities, while serving as homes and communities for a melting pot of individuals and cultures,” Tay says. “However, when planned without social equity and diversity in mind, urbanisation can widen the gaps between different groups in society.” The research identifies key areas of focus for improving women’s lives in cities and outlines a new gender responsive approach to planning and design. It proposes a planning methodology for incorporating women’s needs and perspectives throughout an urban project’s lifecycle from initial brief and stakeholder engagement through to implementation and monitoring. ▲ Women and girls conducted safety audit walks gauging perceptions of safety in public spaces across Sydney and Melbourne to help inform better city design in the future. But this change needs to happen from the ground up—with change at every stakeholder level. Developers, planners and architects will be integral to building out a safer and more inclusive urban landscape. “It is impossible to design successful places for women without involving them directly within the design process,” Tay says. “The report presents four key thematic areas that can be used to influence how cities and developments are designed to be more inclusive and welcoming for women.” These areas include safety and security, involving women in design and decision-making, designing places to enhance women’s wellbeing, and encouraging professional development and social interactions through appropriate built environments. “Only an integrated, gender-responsive, and participatory approach to city-making can hope to tackle and address the breadth of challenges women face in cities across the world,” Tay says. “This requires commitment and collaboration from public and private stakeholders, working together to remove discipline silos and to jointly develop well-crafted and context-relevant physical interventions, as well as governance, social and behavioural change programs and activities. “Siloed thinking and the failure to adopt an integrated approach cannot deliver equity; what is more, it risks exacerbating existing inequities.” Brighter not always safer As part of Arup’s research in this space it collaborated with Monash University’s XYX Lab and Plan International to understand how lighting affects women’s and girls’ perceptions of safety at night in a city. The study used crowdsourced data from Plan International’s Free to Be campaign, which captured more than 900 safe and unsafe night experiences from women and girls at 84 sites across Melbourne. The findings showed that lighting was the most important built environment design factor in influencing people’s perceptions of safety in public places. We are no longer designing our cities for a 9-5, Monday-to-Friday experience or for people who use public transport or their cars to leave the city. The research shows we need to think about public spaces holistically and consider how they will be used at night and whether women and children will feel safe walking around. But there continues to be limited consideration embedded in the design process for lighting after dark and safety, according to Tay, who says brighter does not always feel safer. ▲ The top factor in determining a woman’s perception of personal safety in the public realm was lighting according to survey results. He says the research indicates that involving a lighting designer at the start of a project can unlock night-time activation, something that is close to the heart of 24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues. Rodrigues has been instrumental in advocating for the arts and cultural scene in Sydney and his remit has recently been expanded to include Wollongong and other regions. As part of Sydney’s bid to kickstart its diminishing nightlife, the state government announced 21 “going-out districts” across Greater Sydney would receive a $200,000 grant to create precincts in areas including Darlinghurst, Blacktown and Pyrmont. NSW premier Chris Minns is also an advocate for the night economy. “We have to be an economy that’s open at night-time and if you look at cities around the world that seem to drive economic growth, a big part of that activity occurs after five and six at night,” the premier says. Planning, design crucial to safer public realm The state government’s 24-hour-economy strategy incorporates Purple Flag—an international accreditation program that assesses areas for excellence in vibrancy, diversity and safety at night as a “going-out” location. Parramatta was granted a Purple Flag this year. Arup’s Queensland urban design and masterplanning leader, Jaime Traspaderne, says the research into inclusive and safe built environments will help to influence policy decision and “foster ongoing discussions about social equity in city planning”. “Ultimately our aim is for this research to become a catalyst for sustainable urban transformation worldwide—placing inclusive design at the centre of the design thinking process,” Traspaderne says. “Cities that work for women translates to better cities for all, with strong multiplier socio-economic and environmental effects across households, families, and local communities. “The strategies we have explored in this report can lead to a healthier, safer, more resilient, and more inclusive built environment that nurtures social cohesion and enhances the livelihoods of communities. “Gender-inclusive urban planning and design is also critical in addressing current, multifaceted challenges such as rapid urbanisation, pandemics, multidimensional inequalities, and climate change.” You are currently experiencing The Urban Developer Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals. 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[+] Designing Safer Cities for Women

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