How Urban Design Can Benefit Parents and Kids

In an article in Bloomberg CityLab, Alexandra Lange argues that cities should build more spaces that are safe and friendly to children and families.

According to Lange, “Parenting experts say children need to learn independence and resilience. But cities and suburbs don’t offer safe pedestrian and bike routes to school, malls kick teenagers out on the weekends, and free time disappears under a spreadsheet of activities.” Parents, meanwhile, have to find ways to shuttle their kids to various places, often with few options other than driving.

Lange points to examples dating back as far as the early 20th century, when planners more consciously began trying to design safe, connected, family-friendly neighborhoods. She also lists ways cities can encourage family-friendly spaces without changing their existing housing stock: “Widening sidewalks, closing streets for play on afternoons and weekends, adding speed humps and opening schoolyards after hours can immediately provide the same ease for impromptu hang-outs, with even more potential playmates.”

Lange points out that, even if you don’t have children, “most of the amenities that would make having a family easier benefit everyone. You might not care about slow streets, shaded benches, or walkable shops now, but you are one pregnancy, knee operation, or visit from an older relative away from becoming suddenly, even painfully, aware of the location of every bench, elevator, ramp and bathroom on your daily commute.”