Designing Safer Cities

In an article in The Conversation, Rebecca Wickes describes five methods for making cities safer for women that go beyond just improved lighting and surveillance.

According to research, “Women are keen to see digital interventions across both day and night-time,” particularly real-time transit information and wayfinding. Women also want inclusion in the planning and design process. “If done from the outset, co-design ensures the lived experiences of community members and with the issues faced by communities are factored in.”

Wickes also suggests ‘walking interviews,’ a type of survey that discusses safety and mobility issues while accompanying women on regular trips. “By accompanying women on foot and discussing specific locations, we get a holistic understanding about how women move through these public places, or avoid them, and why.” Similarly, “Understanding the way women perceive their communities is key to creating safer spaces.”