How urban design can make cities safer for women?

Abstract

Safe public spaces that are universally accessible for enjoyment have become important goals for cities around the world. Universal safety is a fundamental requirement for cities to become sustainable and inclusive. Such performance criteria are difficult to measure at the scale of the local neighbourhoods and streets, and this can have life-and-death consequences for vulnerable and marginalised demographics, such as women, children or urban newcomers who are unfamiliar with local dangers and risks. However, technological advances are creating a new landscape for data production, collection and analysis, capable not only to portray routine urban patterns in fine spatial and temporal scales, but also to empower citizens as part of this process. This study analyse the data collected in Bogota and Nairobi through SafetiPin app which was developed in response to the exclusive and unsafe character of neighbourhoods. This mobile app crowd-sources data to identify the factors that lead to lack of safety and insecurity in cities. The findings of this study suggest that lighting, openness, visibility, and public transport could significantly affect the prediction of whether people feel safe. This paper also discusses the extent of this impact.