How Effective Street Lighting Improves Women’s Mobility

A report from Transport for New South Wales highlights the disproportionate safety concerns faced by women in cities after dark, reports Elias Visontay in The Guardian.

In an Australian survey, almost two-thirds of female respondents expressed feeling unsafe walking at night, as opposed to 31 percent of men. “Despite research finding more lighting at night would be popular with many people, councils and other authorities often hesitate installing lights in public areas,” Visontay explains.

Advocates say they want to see a balance between the need to protect local wildlife with improving safety for pedestrians. In Melbourne, a series of high-profile murders prompted city officials to light a popular running path until midnight every day. 

“It’s not just parks. Walking to and from public transport, as well as waiting at bus stops and train stations, can feel unsafe if there is no adequate lighting,” according to Professor Nicole Kalms, who studies the issue of gender-sensitive design.

The problem stems in part from the dominance of men in many aspects of the transportation planning field. “Transport technology company NEC has calculated that only 20% of senior transport roles in Australia are held by women, and women account for only 4% of CEOs in the industry.” This lack of women’s representation has led to poor outcomes when it comes to lighting and security, transit routes that serve women’s and children’s needs, and other aspects of mobility.